TAKEN IN SAN FRANCISCO. 441 



Q. For liow long a p(;riod? — A. About ten years, off and on. I liave 

 been otter hunting some years; about half. 



Q. Have you been master of vessels thus engaged? — A. No, sir; this 

 will be my first time this year. 



Q. What position did you occupy? — A. Hunter and mate two years. 



Q. What time of tlie year do you generally start out sealing in the 

 Pacific, and up to wliat time do you continue? — A. From the latter part 

 of January, generally, until the latter part of September; the middle of 

 Sejitember. 



Q. What time of the year are the seals practically out of the Pacific, 

 having gone to the Bering Sea? — A. I always found soais out of Pacific 

 them very scarce in the latter part of June. coaatabout latter part 



Q. According to your experience, what percentage 

 of animals that are shot at are actually taken by the boats? — A. 

 About a third to a quarter, we lose. 



Q. Are the seals shot at asleep on the water or tiiTecOTfJur. ""*' *'^ 

 awake, usually? — A. Principally asleep. 



Q. Of what sex are the seals taken by you or usually killed by hunt- 

 ing vessels in the North Pacific and Bering Sea? — A. ., ,, ,. , 



^ o , • -1 , Mostly iciualos. 



Females, principally. 



Q. What percentage of them? For instance, if you kill 100 seals, how 

 many males would you get? — A. Perhaps two. You strike a few bulls 

 when you get further, say, towards the Aleutian Islands. 



Q. What percentage of the cows that you kill are with pup ? — A. That 

 is pretty hard for me to estimate. Many times you 

 strike young seals without pup. ,.S* ^itfpup.'"" 



Q. The adult females are all with pup? — A. Yes, 

 sir; I have found a good many old ones that are too old to have pups, 

 extra big size seals. 



Q. In your opinion, are any of the jjups born in the 

 water, or anywhere outside of the seal islands?— A. I 1,,^^" ^°™ °"'y "^ 

 think they are born on land. 



Q. Have you noticed any decrease in the quantity of animals in the 

 last few years? — A. I have fimnd a decrease. I have Decrease 

 not been doing much sealing in the last three or four 

 years. I have been otter hunting, principally, 



Q. To what do you attribute the cause of this de- 

 crease?— A. The increase of the lleet and killing of all ^■™'''- 

 the females. 



Q. If seahng continues as heretofore, is there any danger of exter- 

 minating the herd? — A. Yes, sir; I think so. 



Q. Do you think it absolutely necessary to protect 

 the cows in the Bering Sea?— A. Yes, sir. sJy"''"''*'"" "''°*''" 



Q. What do you think about i)rotecting them in the 

 North Pacific, providing you wanted to increase the seals and save 

 them from extermination? — A. I don't know what to say about that. 

 The North Pacific is pretty big. 



Q. Are the seals generally shot with a rifle or a shotgun?— A. I gen- 

 erally shoot thein with a rifle myself, but they are generally shot with 

 a shotgun, from what I hear. 



Q. In your opinion do the seals on the Russian side 

 intermingle with tliose oa the Pacific side, or are they kan hS scpanixe"^' 

 a separate herd? — A. I tliink they are a separate herd. 



Q. If the cow seals are to be protected in the Bering Sea what month 

 do you consider it would be necessary to i)rohibit any being taken ?^ 

 A. From the beginning of July to the end of the year. 



