270 TESTIMONY 



where than the Pribilof Islands. I think if pelagic 

 hunting was stopped in Bering Sea that seal would be- 

 come plentiful along tlie coast of southern Alaska, and we Indians 

 could again catch plenty of them with the spear, which is a much better 

 way to capture seal than by shooting them with shotguns, for none are 

 lost when struck with a spear. 



his 



,^. Michael x Thlkahdaynahkee. 



Witness : mark. 



George Kastrometinoff, 



United States Court Intcrjjretcr. 



Subscribed and sworn to before me this 8th day of April, 1892. 



A. W. Lavender, 

 United States Treasury Agent. 



Beimsition of Charlie Tlalsatan, sealer. 

 pelagic sealing. 



Charlie Tlaksatan, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I am 43 

 years old; was Lorn at Sitka, Alaska. Have hunted 

 Experience. ^^^^ ^^ mysclf siucc I was a boy, and when very 



small went sealing with my father. Seal have been seen and taken 

 on the coast by me from the 10th of April till the 4th of July. At the 

 beginning of the season they are plentiful, but scarce at 

 Migration. ^^^ closc of the scasou. They are constantly going north 



along the coast. When I first began hunting I used a spear and bow 

 and arrow, but now the shotgun is used exclusively. When seal were 

 struck AA^ith a sj^ear none were lost; lose about 50 per cent when killed 

 with shotgun. A much larger per cent is lost when rilie is used, as the 

 seal sink very quickly after being shot. Most of the 

 maL°s^ tafen *'''*''*^ ^'^ scals takcu ou this coast are COWS witli young. Cow 

 ™'^*"' ^ ' seals sleep sounder on the water, and are less active 



and are easily captured. Quite a large number of yearlings are taken, 

 most of which are females. The sex of the seal can not be told in the 

 water when hunting. We use no discrimination, but 

 _^indiscriminate kill- ].j|j evcry tiling iu the shape of a seal that comes near 

 the boat. When seal are shot dead they sink very riii>- 

 idly. Seal are always shot in the head when it is possible to do so. 

 When spear was used seal Avere very plentiful; since shotgun is used 

 Decrease ^^^^ ^'^'^ bccomiug vcry scarcc. Have noticed a large 



decrease the last four years. I think that pelagic 

 No peiagk birtii. seal hunting iu Bering Sea is the cause the seal be- 

 coming scarce along the coast. Never kncAv of pups 

 Do not haul up ou ]L,eJng ^^Qru lu the water. Have never known fur seal 

 to haul up ou the land or on the coast anyAvhere in 

 Protection. Alaska. I think if pelagic hunting is not stopped in 



Bering Sea the seal will soon become exterminated. 



his 



Charlie x Tlaksatan. 



mark 



George Kostrometinoff, 



United States Court Interpreter. 



Subscribed and sworn to before me this 7th day of April, 1892. 



A. W. Lavender, 

 United States Treasury Aycnt. 



coast. 



