TAKEN ON OR NEAR KADIAK ISLAND. 221 



live and thrive on kelp beds. In my opinion, in order Prohibition neces 

 to preserve tlie fur seals, all pelagic sealing should be ^'''■^' 

 stopped. 



Wm. Foster. 



Subscribed and sworn to before me this 13tli day of April 1892. 



Joseph Murray, 

 United States Treasury A<jent. 



Deposition of Edward Niglil Laicson, sealer [liunter), residing on Kadial 



Island. 



PELAGIC SEALING. 



Edward Nighl Lawson, being duly sworn, deposes and saitli: 1 re- 

 side at St. Pauls, Kadiak Island, Alaska, and have j- ■• ■ 

 lived in the Territory for the past twelve years. I am ^peneui^e. 

 a sea-otter hunter by occupation and am well acquainted with the 

 Northwest coast from San Francisco to Unalaska. 



In the years 1878 and 1870 I was employed as a fur-seal hunter on 

 board the schooners Favorite and Onward, respect- pavoHte i87s 

 ively, both of Victoria, British Columbia; and in the chmard.md'. 

 years 1884 and 1885 I was engaged in the same capac- 

 ity on tlie schooners Teresa and San Diego, respectively, sarTmego, inss. 

 both hailing from San Francisco, Cal. 



In the Victoria vessels we started in to hunt fur-seals off Cape Flat- 

 tery in February both years, following the seals along ^ ^^^ ^^ 

 the coast as far as the Fair Weather ground. In the capp iriatteryiuTeb- 

 American vessels hunting began at Sand Point in "''^''y 

 Jane, and, working on with the main herd from that . ^"^^^^^ -^""'^ ^'''i"' 

 vicinity, we followed the seals through Unimak Pass 

 into Bering Sea. Breech-loading firearms were used exclusively. My 

 own success as a hunter was a catch of 80 per cent of Qau<^ht so per cent 

 all fur seals killed. I have killed females in milk in of those\iiied/ ""^^ 

 Unimak Pass, and even out in the Pacific Ocean, 200 -.j]f^^p'"s females 

 miles from the land. We can not distinguish between 

 the sexes of fur-seals in the water at sea, nor do we try to. On the 

 contrary, everything in sight is taken if possible, ex- ^ ,. . . , 



i_ 1 i il 1 1 • ji 1 rn Inilisiriniinate. 



cept large bulls, whose skins are worthless. To secure 

 a fur-seal it is best to shoot it thrcmgh the body, as it will float longer 

 than if shot through the head. Male fur-seals sink • ,.- „ 



almost instantly when shot dead, while a pregnant ®* ^ '''" "'"s- 

 female will tioat for several minutes. In order to prevent the extermi- 

 nation of the fur seal species I am of the opinion that 

 a close season in the North Pacific Ocean and in Bering J^l^l,""'^'""^-'"'^"^'' 

 Sea should be established and enforced from Ainil 1 " 

 to November 1 of each year. I never saw a i)up seal in the water nor 

 on beds of kelp, and I do not believe it possible for „ , . ^. „ . 



,, . , • T ji T 1 ,. ^ , . . Pelagic birth iin- 



them to be raised there. I know ot no rookeries m possible. 



the North Pacific other than those on the seal islands pSf ishuX''' "" 



of Bering Sea, and have never heard of any others 



from a reliable source. 



Edward Nighl Lawson. 



Subscribed and sworn to before me this loth day of April, 1802. 



Joseph Murr.vv, 

 United States Treasury Agent. 



