TAKEN AT NICHOLAS BAY. 299 



become very scarce, and it is hard for tbe Indians to get any now. 

 Tliey have to go a long way and hnnt a long time in order to get one 

 or two seals, and unless all seal hunting is stoj)ped in the water the 

 seal, like the sea-otter, will soon be all gone. Have 

 never known any ijups to be born in the water or on the ^^ pelagic birth. 

 land in British Columbia or Alaska, nor have I known do not uaui uiion 

 any seals to haul up on the land anywhere in British '"'*'**■ 

 Columbia or Alaska. 



Ins 



Smith x Natch. 



mark. 



Witness to his mark : 

 J. M. Potter, 

 A. W. Lavender. 



Subscribed and sworn to before me this 11th day of May, 1892. 



A. W. Lavender, 

 Uriited Stat en Treasury Agent. 



Deimsition of Ahel Ryan, scaler. 



PELAGIC SEALING. 



Abel Ryan, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I am 22 years old 

 Was born in British Columbia and reside on Dnndas 

 Island. I have hunted fur-seal every season since I Experience. 

 was a boy, between March and June. Always hunted 

 in Dixons Entrance and off Prince of Wales Island. The majority of 

 seals takeu by me have been females with pup. Once 

 in a great while I catch an old bull. A few yearlings m^fes witii no''" **" 

 have been taken and the majority of males are two and 

 three year olds. Shotgun is exclusively used by me for taking seals. 

 Lose about 20 per cent of those killed with shot gun. 

 Have noticed the seal are getting scarce the last few encase, 

 years. The cause of the scarcity is, I think, too many schooners hunt- 

 ing them off Prince of Wales Island, and unless they are stopped the seal 

 will soon be all gone. I have never known or heard of . 



any pups being born in the water or on the land any- °^"^ agicbntii. 

 where around this part of Alaska. Have never known Do not haul up on 

 any fur-seal to haul up on the land anywhere around '''^^^ ' 

 British Columbia or Alaska, I do know that where Indians formerly 

 went out and brought back fifteen seals thev scarcely bring back one 

 now, and unless something is done to x>i"ohibit the 

 schooners from hunting seal oft" Queen Charlotte's and ^^'^*^'^*'°°- 

 Prince of Wales islands there will be no seals left for the Indians. 

 Everything in the shape of a seal that comes near the 

 boat is shot. Hunters use no discrimination, but kill .^_i"<iiscn..nnat.. km 

 everything that puts its head above water. 



liis 



Abel x Ryan. 



^^ mark. 



Witness to his mark: 

 J. M. Potter. 

 A. W. Lavender. 



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



A. W. Lavender, 

 United States Treasury Agent. 



