54 FUE-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



that many young, because most of tbem have their young and are about 

 ready to breed at the time they are caught, aud this certainly ought to 

 be stopped. These vessels will take occasion to bang around the isl- 

 ands, and when there is a heavy fog to go on tbe rookeries. Very 

 often. When I was there they left sixty different carcasses on the island. 

 1 went over to look at them. Tbe Government agents there are utterly 

 powerless to prevent tbe killing of seal, or to protect tbem in any way. 

 There is no vessel there, and tbere is no harbor for a vessel, and I would 

 like to make a recommendation in tbis connection. I believe with tbe 

 expenditureof a very few thousand dollars that tbe Government can build 

 or construct a harbor that will be sufticieiitly large for a good strong 

 steam launch, and witb that steam launch tbe Government agent can 

 protect the islands very well, because tbe vessels tbat prowl around are 

 sailing vessels and they can not always get out fast and a steam launch 

 can catch tbem ; and tbat is something tbat I tbink ought to be done. 

 Tbe Chairman. You tbink tbere ougbt to be a steam launch at tbe 

 disposal of tbe Government agent there? — A. Yes, sir; on each of tbe 

 islands. I do not know what it would cost, but it can be done, and a 

 harbor sufficiently large can be made to take in a steam launch so as to 

 have it in an emergency at all times. I believe tbat ougbt to be done 

 on both islands. As it is to-day, these vessels come and kill 5,000, 

 10,000, 15,000 seal every year, and when a revenue cutter does run tbem 

 down they take tbem to Oonalaska or over to Sitka and dilly-dally 

 around for six montbs and then release tbem. Tbat is a poor policy, 

 and I think it ougbt to be stopped. I believe more stringent measures 

 ougbt to be exerted tbere and more stringent laws if necessary enacted, 

 and tbe sooner it is done tbe better it will for tbe seal. I believe tbat 

 every possible restriction aud restraint sbould be placed around about 

 these seal, and that is one of the important tbings to be done. Out of 

 twenty years, I do not tbink there has been more than three or four 

 owners of vessels or masters of vessels tbat have been punished, when 

 perbaps there have been a hundred or so prowling around in these 

 waters. Aud yet we have now two rev^enue cutters tbere. That would 

 be my recommeuation, that there be more stringent laws made to punish 

 these people. 



By Mr. Jeffries: 



Q. When they kill tbe seals in the waters, about what proportion of 

 them do they recover ■? — A. I do not believe more than one-fourth of 

 them. 



Q. The others sink ? — A. Tbey shoot tbem and they sink. 



Q. Have you ever noticed any wounded ones tbat came ashore that 

 have been shot? — A. No, sir; I do not tbink 1 did. Tbere may have 

 been some came ashore ; but of course you know tbere are quite a num- 

 ber of dead seal tbat are killed in tbe rookeries. Wbetber they came 

 ashore or were killed on tbe rookeries I have never examined, to find 

 out, because I could not do it very well without disturbing the rook- 

 eries in tbe breeding season. 



Q. Those tbat these marauding vessels killed on the rookeries, as well 

 as those tbey killed in the water, of course on those seals tbe Govern- 

 ment gets no tax "? — A. No, sir ; it is an outright theft. 



Q. Those seal tbat tbey do not recover are brought into competition 

 witb those on which the comi>any pays $3.17^ per skin 1 — A. Yes, sir. 



Q, How far are tbe islands of St. George and St. Paul apart? — A. 

 From 38 to 40 miles. 



Q. What sort of climate is it ? Is it foggy ?— A. The weather during 

 the summer montbs is almost a continuous fog; rain almost. 



