58 FUE-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



Q. You think that regulation, coupled with the former recommenda- 

 tions that you suggested, that a revenue-cutter be kept there during 

 the season aud steam-launches supplied the Government agents, would 

 constitute a complete protection to the interests of the Government in 

 that sea 1 — A. I think, sir, all that is necessary; if these restrictions were 

 placed around the islands and the waters of the Bering Sea the depre- 

 dations in that sea would entirely cease and there would be no com- 

 plaint. The difficulty heretofore has been that one revenue-cutter has 

 been obliged to cover a territory of <S00 miles long and 700 or 800 miles 

 wide north and south, and they would get around to the seal islands 

 about twice during the season. They never happen to be there when 

 needed, and as far as their rendering any service whatever is concerned, 

 they were practically useless so far as the seal islands were concerned. 

 That has been the experience,! believe, of all who have been there. And 

 I think if those restrictions are thrown in the way of all vessels that go 

 in and out of those borders, there will be no longer anj' difficulty in the 

 wa3" of providing and caring for the seals, and it strikes me from what 

 I have read of the depredations since I was there, that it is growing 

 worse and worse every year, and 1 think that our Government ought to 

 act without any further delay if they would preserve the seal; and I 

 look upon it as being one of the greatest industries in the world as it is. 



Q. You think in an economic sense it is imi)ortant to preserve this in- 

 terest f — A. Yes, sir. The expenditures in connection with the islands 

 have been comparatively nothing as compared with the receipts. I 

 think you will hud that the rev^enue derived from the seal islands is 

 greater according to the interests over and above the actual expenses 

 and greater than anything else we receive in the way of revenue. 



Q. Thus far it is very profitable? — A. And it behooves the Govern- 

 ment to protect them, and the best means of protecting them is the 

 one to be considered, in my judgment. 



Q. If it was tinally to be determined by the Government after an ad- 

 judication and full consideration that the Bering Seais a closed sea aud 

 that under the treaty of cession by which we acquired it from Russia 

 and under the law of nations the Government of the United States is 

 entitled to exercise absolute and complete dominion and jurisdiction 

 over the Bering Sea in Alaska as a closed sea and as inland water, 

 would you think it a wise policy to abandon and surrender any portion 

 of that jurisdiction and open that sea as a high sea to all nations '? — A. 

 No, sir ; I think if you open any portion of it you might just as well open 

 all of it, or if you give them any part of it wiiatever. I do not care if 

 you give them an absolute permit to go up in the Norton Sound and into 

 the Yukon ; I do not care what the purpose is ; or to any other points, 

 there are a good many vessels that would go up there and violate the 

 laws, and I think the only way is to make it absolutely beyond question 

 — make it cover all the waters of the Bering Sea and not leave a loop- 

 hole for them to crawl out of; for if you do you will have more or less 

 trouble and complications growing out of it, as we have seen on the 

 sea-board here for the last twenty years. And I think the lease ought 

 to be explicit and plain to absolutely cover those points. I do not see 

 any other way that we can have absolute control and maintain the po- 

 sition that we ought to take. That is my judgment. 



Q. You do not think, then, that the value of the seal fisheries and the 

 seal rookeries could be preserved under an open policy"? — A. No, sir; 

 I do not. I think if you open it they will be destroyed without ques- 

 tion. 



Q. Do you think it necessary to protect the seals in the sea aud down 



