274 TESTIMONY 



Dej)osition of P. 8. Weittenhiller, scaler {master). 



PELAGIC SEALING. 



P. S. Weittenhiller, being- duly sworu, deposes and says : I have re- 

 sided at Sitka the past nine years. Am now owner 

 Expeiienca. of the Sealing schooner Clara and have engaged in 



sealing this season. 1 first took seal off Sitka Sound 

 during the month of March. Have done my sealing all this year be- 

 tween Cape Edgcumbe and Cross Sound. My hunters use shotgun ex- 

 clusively. They carry a rifle with them in the boat but have not used 

 one this season to my knowledge. I think as near as I can estimate, 

 about 33^ per cent of- the seals shot are lost. Out of 60 seal taken so far 

 this season 46 are females with pup and 14 were males, 

 taken^"''* ^^"''''^'' Only 1 yearling seal has been taken this season. It is 

 my opinion that female seal are more easily captured and 

 appear to be more tame than the male seal, and I think sleep more. Only 

 1 old bull was taken this season among the males. I should think the 

 male seal taken this year were between 2 and 3 years old. The sex of a 

 seal can not be told in the water except it is an old bull. Hunters use no 

 discrimination, but kill everything that comes near the 

 .^indiscrimmate kiu- ^^^^ Huutcrs shoot all scal iu the head when it is 

 possible to do so and take their chances of its sinking 

 jy^^^^^^^ before they can reach them. From what I kiow seals 



have been decreasing very fast in recent years. Think 

 the decrease is caused by the indiscriminate killing in the North Pacific 

 No eiacric birth ^Jccan and Bering Sea. I have never known any pups 

 o pe agic 11 . ^^ ^^^ born in the water or anywhere else except on the 

 Pribilof Islands. I have never known any fur-seal to haul up anywhere 

 Do not haul u i on ^^ ^^^ ^'"^^^^ ^^^ ^^® coast of Alaska. I have never been 

 coast '^^ *" "^' °° in Bering Sea. I think sealing should be prohibited 

 Protection. f^j, fg^j. qj. gyg, yea^g i^ order to give them a chance 



to multiply and become as plentiful as they formerly were. 



P. S. Weittenhiller. 



Subscribed and sworn to before me this 6th day of May, 1892. 



A. W. Lavender,, 

 United States Treasury Agent. 



Deposition ofMicliael Wooslwot, sealer. 



PELAGIC SEALING. 



Michael Wooskoot, being duly sworu, deposes and says: I am 60 

 years old; born and reside in Sitka, Alaska. Have 

 Experience. bceu engaged in hunting seal for a great many years 



in the North Pacific; Ocean around Sitka Sound. First 

 seal are seen and taken by me about the middle of April of each year. 

 There are more or less of them on the coast till the 1st 

 igr.i ion. ^^^. j^^jy^ First part of the season they are plentiful, 



but towards the last they become scarce. During the above-mentioned 

 period the seal are on the move to the westward. Many years ago, when 

 j'eal were plenty, the spear was used, but now so many schooners are en- 

 gaged iu sealing that the shotgun and rifle has to be used in order to 



