TAKEN IN SAN FRANCISCO. 495 



claims, which the others derided. Any estimate in excess of ^he one 

 I have already given called forth nncomplimentary remarks and charges 

 of boastfnlness. The disinclination of these men to state the absolnte 

 facts, and they alone know what the facts are, in relation to the nniu- 

 ber of seals shot and lost, has been intensified lately by the feeling that 

 it is necessary for them to make a good showing to back up the claim 

 that pelagic sealing is not absolutely destructive of the seal herd. 



In considering the number of skins taken during the past it must be 

 borne in mind that the schooners have frequently been seriously inter- 

 fered with in their work by the cruisers of the United States Govern- 

 ment. 



Mr. Miln, surveyor of the port of Victoria, in his rei)ort to the Domin- 

 ion Government, of which I was so fortunate as to se- 

 cure a copy, stated that if not i nterfered with by cruisers or^iltge^sSfeSf 

 a large-sized schooner would surely capture 3,000 skins "ot iutertered with 

 during the season in the Bering. Mr. Miln's estimate "^y ''''"'■'^*^''*- 

 in that respect, as in many other matters, I found to be fair and honest. 



The destruction of seals in the North Pacific Ocean, as well as in the 

 Bering Sea, is largely confined to females. This fact „ , ^. . ^ 



''i't .1 f M T J • Destruction in Ber- 



can not be disputed successfully. 1 made an examina- ing sea laifrdy con- 

 nation of the reports of the gentlemen who handled fi°e<i to females. 

 the ISTcn-th Pacific collection, up to and including the year 1889, and all 

 agreed that the skins were nearly all from females. 



It may not be out of place to explain that the smaller value of the 

 female seal, especially after the birth of her pup, is in a measure due 

 to the wearing of the fur around the teats. The amount of merchant- 

 able fur being- reduced to that extent, makes it necessary for the han- 

 dlers of skins to observe carefully whether pelts are male or female, as 

 well as their general condition. They make a complete classification, 

 and being experts in their business, are not likely to make mistakes. 

 The large proportion of females killed in the North Pacific is due to the 

 fact, as I exi)lained before, that the males pursue their way to the 

 hauling grounds with disi)atch, while the females are more leisurely in 

 their ino\ ements and take frequent rests. 



I append, as a part of this affidavit, a copy of the report I made to 

 the Alaska Commercial Company on this subject in 

 1880, and which they used for the purpose hereinbefore lesleerin^issg!""'* *" 

 set forth, and I desire to add that subsequent inquiry 

 has proved that the statements and conclusions in the report I then 

 made, were correct. It must be taken into consideration that the esti- 

 mates of the profits of sealing* voyages, and other matters contained in 

 that report, were based uj^on the value of skins in that aiul former 

 years. Subsequently skins have increased in value, and profits of 

 large catches would therefore be proportionately greater, but the con- 

 ditions of sealing have not changed since then, nor can they change, 

 with the exception that the fleet of sailing vessels has largely increased, 

 consequently the destruction of seals has been nuich greater in the List 

 two years. 



There can be no question, that if the seals are not protected, and this 

 tremendous slaughter that is now going on in the sea is 

 not immediately stopped, there will be a total destruc- ^af/."*^''""" °''''^^' 

 tion of the herd in a very short while. 



Theodore T. Williams. 



Subscribed and sworn to before me this 4th day of April, A. D. 1892. 

 [seal] Clement Bennett, 



Notary Public. 



