138 TESTIMONY 



as usual, but during the time of my resideuce no unusual lack of 

 liealth, strength, or vigor was seen among the seals of whatever class 

 or age. ' 



During my long and constant residence I became interested in all 

 matters pertaining to the welfare of the people residing upon the Is- 

 lands, and have since, through an extensive acquaintance with Agents 

 and employes of the Lessees, been constantly advised as to events trans- 

 piring there from year to year. 

 From statements made by such personal acquaintances and friends 

 I became aware of a rapid decrease in seal life in 

 Decrease of seals. ^1^^!^.^^ and rcports of pclagic Sealing, as made public 

 through the press, combined with previous personal knowledge of 

 affairs as existing i^rior to 1882, leaves no possible doubt as to the 

 cause of such decrease of seals. Pelagic sealing as practiced prior to 

 the year 1882 had no apparent eftet't upon seal life, and even when to 

 this was added the taking of a definite number year after year under 

 lease from the United States Government, there was still a constant 

 increas(? of seals observed; I am, therefore, fully cou- 

 Peiagic sealing tiie firmed ill the belief that the decrease in their numbers 

 is due S(jlely to the indiscriminate killing at sea of all 

 ages, regardless of sex, as practiced since 1884. 



I have also no doubt as to the final result of this indiscriminate 

 sealing. The dense fogs wliich prevail over Bering Sea in summer 

 render the drawing of an imaginary line of x'l'otection 

 8arv°^*'^'''°° neees- g^j^Q^j^ ^j^^ scal islauds absolutcly futile and inoperative 

 for suchpur])ose; and unless full protection is aftbrded 

 the animals, their extermination must follow as surely as in the case 

 of the seals at the South Shetland Islands, or the buffalo on the plains 

 of iSTorth America. 



H. W. McIntyre. 



Subscribed and sworn to before me this 10th day of May, A. D. 1802. 

 [seal.] E. Hildebbandt, 



Notary Public. 



Depositions of Anton Melovcdoff, Noen Mandreg in, ApoUon Borudaliaffsky ^ 

 Aggie Kushiii, Wicoli Ki-nk(>ft\ J C. Beilpath, G. L. Fowler, and J. 

 G. ^. Alcerly, residents on ISt. Paul Island. 



DECREASE OF HERD. 



Territory of Alaska, U. S. A., 



The Island of St Paul. 

 Before me, F. H. Newcomb, a first lieutenant in the IT. S. Kevenue 

 Marine Service, and executive olficer of the U. S. Revenue steamer 

 .Rush, and authorized and empowered to take testimony and administer 

 oaths, personally appeared Anton Melovedoff, who, being by me first 

 duly sworn according to law, testified as follows, to wit: 



Q. State y(mr age and place of residence. — A. lam thirty-six years 

 of age; have resided on St. Paul Island, Alaska, for the past twenty- 

 foui* years. 



Q. What is your occupation? — A. I am a scaler; 

 Experience. formerly in the employ of the Alaska Commercial Com- 



pany, and now in the employ of the ISTorth American 

 Commercial Company. 



Q. Has your occui)ation been snch as to give you an opportunity to 

 notice from year to year the condition of the rookc^ries and the peculiar- 



