RELATING TO BRITISH CLAIMS. 347 



gaged in hunting seal to leave about that time. A few sometimes re- 

 main later for the purpose of trying to raid the islands, but there are 

 so few days that the sea is smooth enough to hunt after September 1st 

 that it does not pay to remain any longer. After leaving Bering Sea the 

 last of August all vessels go direct to their home port, for there is no 

 seals to hunt in the North Pacific during September. 

 The conditions for a successful catch are so many that eain s aven uro - 

 while one vessel may take a great many another with equal as large a 

 crew may secure only a small number. It requires experience, careful 

 study of the habits of the seal, and a thorough knowledge of their 

 route of travel along the coast to Bering Sea to secure a good catch. 

 I have known vessels to leave port on the same day that I did with the 

 same number of crew and boats, and at the end of the 

 season I had about two skins to their one. 1 know JJgg. decreased 

 there is not one-half as many seals in the waters of the 

 North Pacific and Bering Sea that there were a few years ago. At the 

 rate they have been decreasing for the last three or four years it will 

 take only about two years more to use them up. It is for the interest 

 of the sealers and everybody else that something be done at once to 

 stop the indiscriminate slaughter of the fur seal in 

 those waters. Sealing vessels were formerly fitted out Date of outfittin s- 

 in February for an eight-months' cruise, but last year some of them 

 fitted out earlier, so as to avoid being warned. We 

 usually run into some port or place in May or June, D „? ; «S^o£S* ent of 



, J , . i • i i • ■ x t» • ' s P rlD S catch. 



where we can ship our skms beiore going into Bering 

 Sea in July. 



Indian hunters go on what is known as a "lay," the vessel getting 

 one-third of the catch of each canoe, and the two In- 

 dians (boat-puller and hunter) the other two-thirds. ****** huntera - 

 The vessel furnishes the subsistence and the Indians furnish their canoes, 

 spears, guns, etc. It costs only about one-half to subsist an Indian 

 crew that it does a white crew, for the Indians live chiefly on fish and 

 the flesh of the seal, with a bttle hard bread and tea. 



Daniel McLean. 



Subscribed and sworn to before me this 7th day of September, A. D. 

 1892. 

 [seal.] Clement Bennett, 



Notary Public. 



Deposition of Jo Jin A. Magec, jr., managing owner of scaling vessels and 



shipping agent. 



State op California, 



City and County of San Francisco, ss: 



John A. Magee, jr., being duly sworn, deposes and says: 

 I am forty-three years of age, and an American citizen. My occupa- 

 tion is managing owner and shipping agent. Place Of U ation 

 business 310 Clay street, San Francisco. I have been 

 engaged in the business since 1884, and at present am 

 managing owner of four vessels. Have fitted out whal- Ex r erience - 

 ing and sealing vessels and am thoroughly conversant with the busi- 



