124 FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



Q. Were they allowed to kill all kinds under the law ? — A. No, sir; 

 but they have always killed, almost iudiscriiniuately, old aud young. 



Q. Does the island of Attou produce anything on which the natives 

 could subsist ? — A. There is plenty of fish. 



Q. But that is in the water ? — A. There are a few geese, but with that 

 exception I know of nothing, except, perhaps, a few water-fowls. Athka 

 and Ounga are very nearly in the same position, with a still larger pop- 

 ulation. 



By the Chairman : 



Q. Is there any agricultural product upon any of the Aleutian 

 Islands ? — A. None whatever. An attempt has been made at Oonalaska 

 to raise a few hardy vegetables, but it has met with very little success. 

 In former years they raised a few potatoes. These acquire suflficient 

 size for eating only rarely and under most favorable circumstances. 



Q. The natives are entirely dependent upon hunting and fishing f — 

 A. Entirely. 



By Mr. Jeffries : 

 Q. I want to ask you whether the seals approach the rookeries now 

 in the same way that they did in earlier times ? — A. They seem to 

 come later and later each year for the last few years. Formerly our 

 killing season commenced early in June. In 1874 and 1875 we took a 

 large percentage of our catch before the 20th of June. During the 

 last few years, however, we hardly got fairly to work before the 20th 

 of June, and this year it was even later than this before any large 

 drives were obtained. It is probably due to the insufficient number of 

 large bulls. The pups being born later in the season naturally return 

 to the grounds later each succeeding year. 



By the Chairman : 



Q. As superintendent, you have observed this business how long ? — 

 A. Since the commencement of the present lease, eighteen years. 



Q. As the result of your observation, what additional restrictions or 

 regulations would you suggest for the better protection of the rook- 

 eries ? — A. I think no further protection is required upon the islands. 

 If the seals are fully protected while they are passing to and from the 

 islands, I believe there would be no trouble in keeping the condition of 

 the rookeries up to the maximum. 



Q. Is it necessary that protection should be extended to the Pacific 

 Ocean south of the Aleutian Islands during the season, aud after they 

 have left the rookeries ? — A. Yes, sir ; I believe it would be a good pol- 

 icy, because the seals, after leaving the islands, are spread out over the 

 North Pacific on the feeding grounds during the winter, but toward 

 spring are found in great numbers down about the Straits of Fuca, and 

 along the British Columbia coast. 



Q. The seals are born soon after the cows reach the rookeries, are 

 they •? — A. Yes, sir ; following the seals in their migrations, we find 

 them passing along by Kodiak and the Shumagin Islands, aud finally 

 through the passes into Bering Sea, and to the seal islands. While 

 they are going through the Aleutian passes in the spring, many are 

 killed. I presume many more could be killed if the marauders were 

 fully aware of their movements. If we would give the seals fullest 

 protection, we must look after the coasts of British Columbia and the 

 Alaska peninsula, if it were possible to do so, at all times. 



