TAKEN IN SAN FRANCISCO. 483 



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

 to pre^doas years? — A. There has been a decided de- 

 crease. Vessels that used to get Avith experienced i^<'<'rease. 

 hunters 3,000 or 4,000 in a season, now get with experienced hunters 

 less than half of that number. 



Q. To what do you attribute that decrease*? — A. I 

 attribute the decrease to the indiscriminate slaughter i.J,"^,^.'*'"'™'"**^ 

 of the seals. 



Q. Do the pups perish with the cows that you 

 kill ?— A. Certainly, they do. ^"^^ ^"'*- 



Q. Is it your opinion, if stealing continues unrestricted, that they 

 will soon be exterminated 1 — A. They will, in my opinion, not be entirely 

 exterminated should sealing continue there as usual, but it will make 

 the business of seal catching so unprofitable that no one will desire to 

 engage in it, I think. 



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

 in the Bering Sea, to prevent the herd from being ex- 

 terminated"? If so, for what months in the year?— A. ^afy!'*'"'*'*"' °^*'^^" 

 It is my opinion that it is absolutely necessary to pro- 

 tect the cows in the Bering Sea during the entire year for a period of 

 years. 



Q. Do you generally shoot seals with a rifle or shotgun, and if the 

 latter, with buckshot or fine shot? — A. We use both, but princii)ally 

 with a shotgun loaded with No. 2 shot, heavy buckshot. 



Q. Judging by the direction that seals were traveling during your 

 experience, where do you suppose was their destina- Minration 

 tion? — A. In the fall of the year they leave their rook- '-ra ion. 

 eries and travel to a warmer climate, traveling from 5 miles to 100 miles 

 offshore. 



Q. Do you think of anything else that is of value in regard to this 

 seal question that I have not asked you, and if any- 

 thing you would like to say, you can give your opinion t Jn u^ceLslfry.^'*''^''' 

 about it? — A. Well, I think it is proper for the interests 

 of sealing in those waters that the Government should take immediate 

 action in the protection of seals in the Bering Sea. 



Geo. Ball. 



William Henson, having been duly sworn, testi- ^.„. „ 



„ , ^ ,, y o J ■) William HeuBon 



fied as follows: sealer. 



The Notary : 



Q. What is your name, age, residence, and occupation? — A. My 

 name is William Henson; lam 30 years old; I reside in this city; I 

 have been occupied in seal hunting for about eight years. 



Q. Are you a citizen of the United States? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. What State aie you a resident of? — A. The State of California. 



Q. Do you know of what sex the seals were that ^^^^j ^^^^ 

 you have taken in the Pacific and Bering Sea? — A. maie°a*taken!^''" 

 Two-thirds of them are females. 



Q. What percentage of the skins you have taken were cows? — A. 

 Two thirds, I should say. 



Q. What percentage of the cows you have taken were with pup? — 

 A. At least 00 per cent were with pup. 



Q. When does sealing commence in the Paiiific and , ,. 



11 -J. 1 '!> A LI T • ii n healing season. 



when does it end?— A. Seamig commences in the la- 



