472 TESTIMONY 



three killed and wounded. The percentage of loss of those killed and 

 wounded is fully as great as I have stated. I know of 



islands. "^ "'^^ **" no place where they haul up on laud except the Pribilof 

 Islands. 



John Olsen. 



Subscribed and sworn to before me this 2d day of April, A. D. 1892. 

 [l. s.] Clement Bennett, 



Notary Fuhlie. 



Deposition of Charles W. Reed, sealer (master). 

 HABITS— SEALS IN PACIFIC. 



State of California, 



City and County of San Francisco^ ss : 

 Charles W. Eeed, having been duly sworn, deposes and says : I am 



53 years old and am an American citizen, resident of 



Experience. g^^^ Fraucisco, aud by occupation a shipmaster and 



pilot, and a member of the San Francisco Pilot Association. Between 



the years 1872 and 1880 I made four voyages, as master of a schooner 



and in charge of expeditions engaged in the sealing 

 gol'^isiamir ^^^^^^' industry, to the Galapagos Islands. These islands are 



situated on the equator, longitude about 90° west. In 

 the first voyage I remained upon the islands about seven months, and 

 at subsequent times from three to five months at each voyage, covering 

 diflerert seasons of the year. I have thus seen and carefully observed 

 the seals resorting to these islands at all times of the year. The beaches 

 occupied by them are overhung by high cliffs and indented with caves 

 j^^^.^^ and crevices into which the seals go, when not in the 



water, to avoid the tropical sun. The young are born 

 in these caves and are unable to swim until several weeks old. They 

 do not migrate, but may be found on and about the islands at all times 

 of year. With this exception their habits do not vary, as far as I know, 



ft'om those of fur-seals in Alaskan waters. They are 



omes ic nature. ^^^^ particularly timid, and may be as easily managed 



as sheep or cattle. I have no doubt they could be propagated on the 



rookeries and their reproduction reassured under proper management. 



I captured on the first voyage about 3,000 skins and as 

 _^indiscrimiuate kui- j^g^j^y moTe iu the tlircc later voyages, slaughtering old 



and young indiscriminately, but I am now credibly in- 

 formed that the rookeries are again building up and increasing in 

 numbers. The skins obtained from this herd are quite distinct from 

 those from the Guadalupe, Santa Kosa, and Santa Cruz, and oth,er 

 islands to the northward of the Galapagos group, being much shorter 

 and lighter furred and correspondingly less valuable, as might be ex- 

 pected in animals bred in a tropical climate. 



Charles W. Eeed. 



Subscribed and sworn to before me this 28th day of April, A. D. 

 1892. 

 [SEAL.] Clement Bennett, 



Notary Puhlio, 



