540 TESTIMONY. 



ing tlie Eussian occupation of Alaska tliat no tnking of seals in tlio 

 waters of said sea was attempted or peniiitted. 



A statement is attached hereto, prepared by deponent, giving his esti- 

 Estimate of females mate of the number of female seals killed by pelagic 

 sealing X llllH^ hunting HI the past twenty-one years. 



years." 0. A. WiLLTAMS. 



Subscribed and sworn to before me, a notary public in and for the 

 District of Columbia, this 2d day of April, 1892. 

 [l. s.] Jno. J. Cook, 



Notary Fuhlic. 



Exhibit A. 



Statements and statistics relative to the fur-seal fishery. 



[Submitted to committee of Congress on merchant marine and fisberies, 1888.] 



Examination of the earliest records of the fur-seal fishery shows that 

 from the date of man's recognition of the value of the 

 fii^seai^"""^*"^*^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ pursuit of thc animal bearing it has been un- 

 ceasing and relentless. Save in the few instances to 

 be noted hereafter, Avhere governments have interposed for the purpose 

 of protecting seal life, having in view benefits to accrue in the future, 

 the animal has been wantonly slaughtered with no re- 

 siaifo^tter"'"'^"'^*'' gard for age, sex, or condition. The mature male, the 

 female heavy with young, the pup, dependent for life on 

 the mother, each and all have been indiscriminately killed or left to 

 die of want. This cruel and useless butchery has resulted in complete 

 extermination of the fur-seal from localities which were once frequented 

 by millions of the species; and, so far as these localities are concerned, 

 has obliterated an industry which a little more enlightened selfishness 

 might have preserved in perpetuity to the great benefit of all ranks of 

 civilized society. Nothing less than stringent laws, 

 ^.^ri^f^^^^aPi^^rf^' with will power to enforce tliem against all violators, 

 can preserve for man's benefit the remnant of a race 

 of animals so interesting and so useful. 



The most valuable "rookery" or breeding place of these animals 

 The most valuable ^"^^^ kuowii to mau is uow ill thc posscssiou of the 

 rooker"is^in^i.""ses^ United Statcs. How it has been cared for in former 

 states"* "'^ ^''''''"^ years, and brought to its present state of value of 

 itspre.-ervationthe uscfuliiess, will be showii later on. But the matter 

 qucsiion. ' of its preservation and perpetuation intact is the im- 



portant question of the moment, and that this question may be consid- 

 ered intelligently the evidence is here presented of the 

 henis*'^"*'*'""''*"*^*''^ wanton destruction that has befallen these animals 

 when left unprotected by the law to man's greed and 

 selfishness, which, it is fair to say, is all that could be expected from 

 the unlicensed hunter, whose nature seeks individual and immediate 

 gain, with no regard for a future in which he has no assurance of per- 

 sonal advantage. 



The following statistics are gathered from the journals of early navi- 

 gators, and such commercial records as are now available are sub- 

 mitted : 



KERGUELEN LAND. 



An island in southern Indian Ocean discovered about 1772. The 



shores of this island were teeming with fnr-seal when 



Kergueien Land. -^ ^^^^ bccame kiiowu. Betwecu the date of its dis- 



