SEALSKIN INDUSTRY IN UNITED STATES. 523 



De])Osition of George H. Treadw ell, president of the George C. Trmdtvell 

 Company, furriers. 



general sealskin industry — pelagic sealing. 



State of New York, 



(Jity and County of Albany, ss: 



George H. Tread well, being duly sworn, says: I am 55 years of age, 

 a citizen of tlie United States, and a resident of Albany County in the 

 State of New York. I am tlie son of George C. Treadwell, of Albany, 

 who, in the year 1832 there started a wholesale fur busi- 

 ness of a general character. I became associated with ^penence. 

 him in it in the year 1858, and upon his death in the year 1885 suc- 

 ceeded to the business. It has been carried on under the names of 

 George C. Treadwell & Co. and Treadwell & Co. In the early part of 

 this year it was turned into The George C. Treadwell Company, a cor- 

 poration formed under the laws of the State of New Jersey, of which 

 corporation I am the president. 



My father dressed and dyed a few seal-skins in 1832, and each year 

 thereafter, and in 1864 this became a lucrative item of 

 our business. Sincel870 the house has bought annually i^^tlnton.^ ^"""^^^ 

 from 5,000 to G,000 salted fur-seal skins in London, all 

 of which it has dressed and dyed in Albany. 



In this industry we have constantly emi)loyed during the last ten 

 years about forty men and women, who receive average 

 wages of $1.25 to $2 a day. Our "pickers" get an tofaZr"^'""''* ^'^'° 

 average of 11.25 for each skin, and they handle about 

 three a day. My pay roll averages about ^500 a week. 



I understand that my concern and that of J. D. Williams, of Brooklyn, 

 have heretofore been the only regular and recognized dressers and 

 dyers in the United States. Until last year our house dressed and 

 dyed skins only for its own use. 



In addition to dressing and dyeing, our house annually manufac- 

 tures a large number of fur-seal-skin articles. I am 

 deeply interested in the protection of the fur-seals. cafchra7s% ffrnX! 

 While the Northwest Coast catches have of late years 

 placed upon the market coni])inati\ ely cheap skins, and in that way 

 perhaps benefited my particular business, yet I recognize the fact that 

 such benefit can only be of temporary duration, for I have always noticed 

 that these catches are largely composed of female skins, and 1 know 

 that to kill female animals seriously impairs the herd. 

 Besides, skins are being now put on the market at such '^''^" ^"^ voices. 

 irregular times and in such uneven quantities that buying them has 

 become a speculative business. 



I believe that the whole trouble has been brought about by the Vic- 

 toria and other pelagic sealers, who furnish the present 

 cheap skins. Both in order to maintain the herd, and jurioufto w^elia"*" 

 to restore the seal-skin industry to a sure footing, I 

 should like to see all taking of seals in the water prohibited. 



In March of this year, I made a contract with parties on the Pacific 

 coast for their supi)ly of northwest coast skins {i. e., skins taken in the 

 Pacific Ocean) caught during the present year, and about a month ago 

 I received the first consignment under this contract. It was composed 

 of the skins of the spring catch. Later on I expect to receive two 

 further shipments. 



