TAKEN IN SAN FRANCISCO. 485 



In witness whereof I liave liereunto subscribed mj^ name and af- 

 fixed my seal of oftice, this 25th day of February, 1892. 

 [SEAL,.] Clement Bennett, 



Notary Fublic. 



Deposition of Z. L. Tfinner, Commander^ U. S. Navy. 



Z. L. Tanner, being- duly sworn, deposes and saith : I am a Lieutenant- 

 Commander in tlie United States Navy, commanding j,^ ,^^.5,,^^,^ 

 the Fish Commission Htcamer Albatross. I have made ^peu.nce. 

 five cruises in Alaskan waters, embracing the entire region from Fort 

 Tongass to the Ivuskokwim Eiver, including the eastern portion of 

 Bering Sea. I have never seen and have no knowledge „ , 



n ^'j? 1 1 • • ii • ii ^i 4^1 N" knowledge of 



of any lur-seal rookeries lu the region otlier tlian those rookeries elsewhere 

 on the Pribilof Islands, and have never seen fur-seals J|,'^;,'^"° P"*^""*" i^' 

 in any great abundance save on and near said islands. 



Z. L, Tanner, 

 Lieutenant- Commander, U. IS. Navy. 



Subscribed and sworn to before me this 29th day of April, 1892. 



Joseph Murray, 

 United States Treasury Agent. 



Deposition of W. Thomas, master mariner. 



PELAGIC SEALING. 



W. Thomas, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I am a seaman by 

 occupation and at ]n'esent captain of the steamer Elsie. Previous to 

 taking command of the Wsie 1 was in command of the steamer Karlulc 

 doing business iu Alaska most of that time. The hun- 

 ters follow the seal from south of San Francisco, Experience. 

 where they begin to take them in February until they 

 enter Bering Sea. Tlie seal are constantly on the ad- Mi<rration. 

 vance up the coast from the time they first appear. 

 The white hunters use shotguns altogether for taking seal. I have 

 always understood that 33 per cent of seals shot with shotguns are 

 lost. Hunters use no discrimination in killing' seal, but 

 kill everything that comes near the boat, regardless ^^^^^"'^'^"'"""atekiii. 

 of sex. 1 have heard that seal have been decreasing the Decrea 

 last few years, caused, I think, by pelagic sealing. 

 Have never known any pups being born in the water No pelagic birth. 

 or on the land on the coast of Alaska outside of the 

 Pribilof Islands. I have never known myself of fur- ^, , ^ ,. , 



11 1 ,1 j^ /^ 4 1 1 J . 1 ,. , T Seal do not naul up 



seal hauling up on the coast ot Alaska outside ot the on coast. 



Pribilof Islands, but have heard there were a few one 



season hauled on Oumnaklslaiid. Itliinkthat allpelagic Protectioa. 



hunting should be stopped for a few years to give the 



seal a chance to increase. 



W. Thomas. 

 Subscribed and sworn to before me this 30tli day of April, 1892. 



A. W. Lavender, 

 United States Treasury Agent, 



