4l2 TESTIMONY 



Q. When does sealing commence in tlie Pacific and wlien does it 

 end? — A. Sealing commences in the Pacific about the 1st of January 

 and ends about the 1st of July. 



Q. When does sealing commence in the Bering Sea and when does it 

 end? — A. Sealing commences in the Bering Sea about the 1st of July 

 and ends about the last of October. 



Q. What percentage of seals are taken compared to those you de- 

 stroy in doing so ; in other words, how many do you actually get out 

 of those you shoot? — A. We get about 75 per cent of what we shoot. 



Q. Is it not a fact that when you first started in the business and was 

 inexperienced in hunting, that you, like all other beginners, destroyed 

 a much larger proportion than you now do? — A. It is; yes, sir. 



Q. Are the seals you shoot at mostly asleep on the water or awake? — 

 A. Asleep. 



Indiscriminate Q- If awakc, do you slioot at them wMlc breecMug ? — 

 slaughter. A. We shoot any we can get. 



Q. Have you ever seen any seals born in the water, and is it your 



opinion that it is possible for them to be born in the 



poSfif ^'^*^ ^" water?— A. No, sir; they would drown if born in the 



water. 



Haul out only on Q. Do you kuow of auy i^lacc where seals land, out- 



Pribilof Islands. ^-^^ ^f ^^^ g^^j ishiuds?— A. I dO UOt. 



Q. Has there been any decrease in the quantity of seals as compared 

 to previous years? — A. I think there has. 



Q. If there is a decrease, to what do you attribute it? — A. To the 



killing and hunting of them by seal-hunters. 

 Decrease. q^ jy^ ^^^ ^^^^ pcrish with the COWS that you kill ?— 



A. Certainly. 



Q. Is it your opinion, if sealing' continues unrestricted, that they will 

 soon be exterminated ? — A. I think so ; yes, sir. 



Q. In your opinion is it absolutely necessary to protect the cows in 



Bering Sea to prevent the herd fiom being extermi- 



Prohibitiou noces- jiatcd ? — A. It is absolutely necessary in my opinion. 



**'"■' Q. What months of the year do you think they should 



be protected? — A. From the 1st of July to the last of October I think 



they should be protected. 



Q. Do you generally shoot seals with a rifle, or a shotgun? — A. 

 rirearma Mostly with a shotguu. 



irearma. ^ What shot do you usc, buckshot or fine shot? — 



A. Buckshot. 



Q. Judging by the direction that seals were traveling in the spring 

 of the year, during your experience, where do you suppose wa^j their 

 destination? — A. To the rookeries in the Bering Sea. 



Q. Do you think it would be better that the Bering Sea should be 

 .„ . entirely closed? — A. I think it would be better. 



Closing of Bering " 



Sea. 



Daniel Claussen. 

 State of California, 



City and County of San Francisco, ss : 

 I, Clement Bennett, a notary public in and for said city and county 

 of San Francisco, do hereby certify that tlie witness in the foregoing- 

 deposition named was by me duly sworn to testify the truth, the whole 

 truth, and nothing but the truth; that said deposition was reduced to 

 writing, and when completed was carefully read over to said witness, 

 and by him subscribed in my presence. 



