RELATING TO ST. PAUL ISLAND. 139 



ities of seal life? — A. Yes; I was chief for about ten years, and during 

 that time had charge of the drives and have always participated in the 

 killing of the seals. 



Q. Have you noticed any perceptible difference in the number of 

 seals on rookeries li-om one year to another? — ^A. Yes. 



Q. What changes have you noticed? — A. They have been getting 

 less every year for about the last six years. 



Q. About how much less is the number of seals dur- 

 ing the past year than they were six years ago? — A. The number of 

 seals this year are about one-fourth of what they were ^ t t f 

 six years ago, and about one-half of what they were 

 last year. 



Q. In what way do you form your above opinion as to the relative 

 number of seals on the rookeries? — A. By the fact that many spaces 

 on the rookeries which were formerly crowded are now not occupied at 

 all. 



Q. To what do you attribute the decrease in the number of seals on 

 the rookeries? — A. To the great number of cows killed 

 by poachers, and consequently less pups are born on 

 the rookeries. 



Q. How do you know that cows have been killed by poachers? — A. 1 

 have handled and seen a great number of skins captured l)y the Eevenue 

 Cutters from the poaching vessels, and there were very few male skins 

 among them; also have seen among them a great number of unborn 

 pups. Twice upon the rookeries I have seen cows killed and left there 

 by the ijoachers. 



Q. Why is it, in your opinion, that more female than male seals are 

 killed by the poachers ? — A. Because, first, in the pas- 

 sage of the seals to the islands in the early season the j.SisSiel!'^ 

 females travel in groups and the males scatter; sec- 

 ondly, after arriving at the islands the males remain on or about the 

 hauling grounds, while the females having their pups „ , ^ ,. 

 to nurse go out into the sea to obtain tood. 



Q. How do you tell the skin of a female from that of a male? — A. 

 By the nipples and general appearance. 



Q. Have you ever known the lessees to take female 

 skins?— A. Fo. Any employe killing a female either i.^^essl^.^.^'' ^''""^ 

 intentionally or accidentally would be liable to a fine. 



Q. Bid you see any dead pups on the rookeries the ^^^^^ 

 j)ast season? — A. Yes; I saw lots of them. 



Q. How do they compare with the number observed informer years? — 

 A. Much greater in x^roportion to the number of females on the rook- 

 eries than formerly. 



Q. How do you account for this? — A. I think the cows were killed 

 by the poachers while away from the rookeries, and as mother seals 

 nurse none but their own young, consequently the pups whose mothei'T:^ 

 were killed die from starvation. 



Anton Meloveuoff. 



Also Noen Mandregin, who, being duly sworn by me as hereinafter 

 certified, testified as follows : 



Q. State your age and place of residence. — A. I am thirty-four years 

 of age and am a nativ<^ and resident of St. Paul Island, Alaska. 



Q. What is your occnjiation? — A. I am a scaler, formerly in the em. 

 ploy of the Alaska Commercial Company, and now in pxicriouce 

 the employ of the North American Commercial Com- 

 pany. 



