526 



TESTIMONY. 



Affidavits of Joseph Ullman it al., furriers. 



VALUE OF THE INDUSTRY OF THE MANUFACTURE OF FUR-SEAL 

 ARTICLES IN THE UNITED STATES. 



Number of 

 imported. 



The number of Alaska fur-seal skins wliich are imported annually 

 into the United States, after dressing and dyeing in London, is, upon 

 the basis of the importations during the past ten years 

 ^^^"^ and upon a catch of 100,000 skins at the Pribilof Is- 

 lands, correctly estimated at 65,000 to 75,000. 

 The value, before paying duty thereon to the United States, of each 

 dressed and dyed fur-seal skin so imported, may be 

 Value of each skin. ^^.^^ to range between |15 and $50, with an average 

 value during the past ten years of about $25 a skin. 



The wages paid annually to people engaged in the manufacture and 

 „ ., remodeling of seal-skin articles are, on an average, 



wages paia. ^^^^^^ ^^ ^ ^^.^^ ^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^.^^^ $400,000. 



The profits made annually by merchants, wholesale furriers, and 

 retail furriers amount to about $30 a skin, or upon 

 70,000 skins, $2,100,000. 



The amount of silk consumed annually in the manu- 

 facture in the United States of 70,000 fur-seal skins 

 into articles and in therepairingof these articles, may 

 be estimated at $150,000 to $200,000. All silk which 

 is being so consumed at the present time is made in the 

 United States. 

 Working men and Workiug mcu and womcu are employed in the in- 

 wages^p^d": °^^ '^" dustry of manufacturing seal-skin articles in the United 

 States as follows : 



Profits of merchants 

 and furriers. 



Silk consumed in 

 making and repair of 

 seal-skin articles. 



Number. Wages per diem. 



a. Fur cutters (i. e., people who trim, repair, and prepare the general 

 shape of skins) 



6. Nailers (i. e., people who stretch and nail skins into shape on 

 boards) 



c. Sewers and finishers (i. e., people who put the article into final 

 shape) 



d. Those who machine skins (i. c, remove the portion of guard hairs 

 left by the " imhairers") 



Total 



1,200 



600 



1,500 



$3. 50 to $4. 50 

 2.00 to 2.50 

 1.50 to 2.00 

 2.00 



The fur cutters rei)resent skilled labor of a high order. They handle 

 about eight skins a day. 



p^^ No account is taken of porters, clerks, salesmen, etc., 



saiesmea^^etc!' "'^ ^' employed in the large establishments. 



Dated at the city of New York, June 21st, 1892. 



Jos. Ullmann. 



Martin Bates, Jr., & Co. 



Harris »& Eussak, 

 By Alfred Harris. 



Henry Treadwell. 



Estate of John Kuszits, 

 By E. J. Stake. 



ASCII & Jaekal. 



0. U. Gunther's Sons. 



