102 FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



for Alaska. Suppose the Government sells the islands, who will take 

 care of the Aleuts. What will be a guaranty of protection to the pur- 

 chaser? 



With every assurance the Government could give us I should still 

 feel that there was a slowness in the operation of the Government 

 which would ruin the business. The Government has got the responsi- 

 bility for these people, and in my mind, it can not escape it, and can 

 not afford to sell the islands. Whatever is to be done in the matter 

 must be done by the Government. 



Q. (By Mr. Jeffries.) I understood you to say that after the fur 

 is taken off the seal skins, the skin has little or no commercial value. — 

 A. It has none at all — I will not say none at all — but it is very slight. 



Here a recess was taken until 2 o'clock. 



AFTER THE RECESS. 



By Mr. Jeffries : 



Q. You spoke in your testimony of fashion being a controlling ele- 

 ment in the price of seal skins. I ask you whether or not the mainte- 

 nance of the fashion is one of the expenditures of the company ? — A. It is 

 an absolute necessity for the company to carefully observe the usage 

 of tliose skins. You know fashion is very fleeting and changeable, and 

 if the matter of perseverance in regard to the usage of those skins is 

 not considered they will be very likely to go out of use; therefore it be- 

 hooves the company to uphold the fashion, and it has necessarily been 

 a part of their business. 



Q. Is it an important expenditure ? — A. It is, and it is usual in St. 

 Petersburg, in Vienna, in Berlin, in Paris, in London, and elsewhere to 

 take such legitimate steps as are right and proper to keep this article 

 before the public and make its use popular. It is a very considerable 

 expenditure. 



Q. Do you regard it as a necessary expenditure ? — A. I regard it as 

 absolutely necessary. 



Q. Whether the company or whether the Government manages it ? — 

 A. It matters not who has those skins to dispose of, they must use 

 every effort to keep them in fashion. 



Q. Has the company performed its contract with the Government in 

 every respect in regard to its laws ? — A. So far as I know it has fully, 

 and done more besides. 



Q. Have you instructed your agents to comply strictly with the laws 

 and regulations of the Treasury Department ? — A. In every case : yes. 



Q. Do you kill seals with fire-arms at the islands or do you prohibit 

 that ? — A. No, sir ; never ; it is not allowed by the act. 



Q. Do you kill the female seals or allow them to be killed ? — A. Never 

 with our knowledge. 



Q. Do you kill any during the month of August for their skins ? — A. 

 Not a seal ; no. 



Q. Do you kill any seals under two years old ?— A. Not that we are 

 aware of. 



Q. The agents are instructed not to ? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. In regard to the goods that you sell to the natives, how is it in regard 

 to the prices and quality ?— A. The goods which we sell to the natives 

 are purchased in San Francisco very closely, and to the wholesale prices 

 at which they are bought is added 25 per cent, to cover the cost of trans- 



