FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 125 



By Mr. Felton : 

 Q. Is there any power to do that ? — A. I think the seals should be 

 regarded as our property, and should be looked upon, when away from 

 the islands, as cattle astray. They belong on those islands. At any 

 time when they are found away from the islands they are, nevertheless, 

 our property. They belong properly to the United States, and 1 be- 

 lieve their movements could be followed, and protection given them 

 while they are away. 



By the Chairman : 



Q. Do you think such measure of protection essential to the preser- 

 vation of the herd ? — A. I doubt whether the depredations could be 

 carried on in the ISTorth Pacific Ocean to such an extent as to imperil 

 the business, but in Bering Sea I have no question but what the 

 rookeries could be broken up within a few years if left open to depreda- 

 tions. The result of recent marauding shows that the entire rookeries 

 can be broken up within a few years. 



Q. Do vessels going through Bering Sea touch at any jjort of the 

 United States ? — A. i^o, sir ; they clear from San Francisco or Port 

 Townsend for hunting and fishing. They go where they like, and re- 

 turn to those ports without having entered any harbor. 



Q. Where do the British vessels clear from ? — A. Mostly from Vic- 

 toria. 



Q. Do any other vessels hunt in those waters except the vessels of 

 the United States and Great Britain ? — A. No, sir: I have never known 

 any others to do so. 



Q. Are those vessels allowed to hunt and fish indiscriminately in the 

 Xorth Pacific and Bering Sea ? — A. Yes, sir ; I think there should 

 be a regulation providing that all vessels should be compelled to touch 

 at Oonalaska or Kodiak. 



Q. In other words, you suggest a regulation that vessels in Bering 

 Sea be required to touch at one or the other of those points'? — A. Yes, 

 sir ; and on returning they should be required also to touch and report 

 what they have on board. 



Q. You would include in that regulation the vessels of the United 

 States I — A. Yes, and all others. The vessels of our company invari- 

 ably do it now, and find it no hardship. 



By Mr. Felton : 



Q. But would you make an examination of the vessels to see what 

 they had ? — A. Yes, sir. Every vessel should be examined to see what 

 she has on board. The vessel's manifest must show that at all times. 



Q. Do you know anything about marauding vessels having taken 

 seal skins in Bering Sea and having secreted them? — A. Yes, sir; last 

 year a British vessel took some 450 seals in Bering Sea, secreted them 

 on a small island, and, leaving them there, returned to the same waters 

 for more. They feared capture, and so wanted to make sure at least of 

 the number they had already secured. 



Q. Do you happen to know whether Russia protects her rookeries 

 on the other side of the line? — A. Yes, sir, fully; to the extent of de- 

 stroying marauding vessels. In one instance, I am told, they actually 

 burned a marauding schooner. 



Q. There is nothing separating us, as I understand the geography, 

 except the line established by the treaty ? — A. That is all ; it is simply 

 an imaginary line. 



Q. Under oatk do you say that the Alaska Commercial Company has 



