TAKEN IN SAN FRANCISCO. 405 



There is very little m the sealing- business now, the cost Df fitting 

 out a vessel being from $5,000 to $0,000, and you have to take the risk 

 of having- your vessel confiscated. I sent my vessel this year over to 

 the coast of Japan. There were some seventy-odd schooners fitted out 

 last year from Victoria and they all got good catches, while from here 

 there were only from ten to fifteen schooners fitted out, and they did 

 not do as well. From my knowledge of the business I am certain that 

 the fur-seal will soon be exterminated if it is not protected in the Ber- 

 ing Sea. We might kill some in the Pacific Ocean, if there did not too 

 many vessels go out to hunt them. I know of none, nor 

 neither do I believe there is any place where the fur- PiSf isiVdf.^ °" 

 seals haul up to breed on land along our shores or in 

 the Bering Sea, except on Pribylov Islands, and further 

 1 do not believe it possible for the female to give birth poSie^ ^'^^^ ''"' 

 to its young in the water and have it live. 



W. Bendt, 



Subscribed and sworn to before me this 14th day of April, A. 1). 1892. 

 [seal.] Clement Bennett, 



Notary Public. 



Bepositkm of Martin Benson, sealer, and master of James G. Swar 



and Leo. 



PELAGIC SEALING. 



Martin Benson, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I have been 

 engaged in sealing five years, as master of the James' G. Swan and the 

 Leo, in Bering Sea and North Pacific Ocean. I began 

 to take seal off Cajje Flattery about March 1. Fol- ^^p*'"^^"'^- 

 lowed the seal north and entered Bering Sea about Migration. 

 July 20. The seal are constantly on the move up the coast from the 

 time they first make their appearance off Gape Flattery. The spear and 

 shotgun have been used by me. But few seal are lost that are struck 

 with spear. About 66 per cent are lost when shot with shotgun and a 

 larger proportion are lost when rifle is used. Seventy- ^^^^^^ A^e 

 five per cent of the seal taken on the coast are cows cenrcows with pup 

 with pup. And the larger proportion of those killed *'^^'^°- 

 in Bering Sea are also cows. Have killed cow seal, witb milk in them, 

 65 miles from the Pribilof Islands. I think cow seal are tamer than 

 young male seal. A few male seal are taken, ages ranging from 1 to 

 5 years. Once in a while we catch an old bull in the Pacific Ocean. 

 The sex of the seal can not be told in the water unless it be an old bull, 

 which is told by its size. 



I use no discrimination in hunting, but kill everytbing that comes 

 near. When seals are shot when they first put their 

 heads above water they sink at once and are hard to .^indiscriminate kiii- 

 secure. Always try to shoot seal in the head. If head 

 is not exposed, we shoot them in other parts of the body. It is only a 

 question of three or four years, if this indiscriminate Decrease 

 slaughtering of seals is not stopped, they will become 

 exterminated. I^Tever have heard of or seen any pups wfteror'"any\v™oi4° 

 being born in the water or anywhere else on the coast eiso outside riibiiof 

 outside of the Pribilof Islands. I have never heard of ^^•'""^'- 



