FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 131 



Q. How many superintendents has this company had during the time 

 you have been there — I mean how many in charge generally'? — A. I have 

 now six assistants, besides five or six additional men who are employed 

 as teachers, store-keepers, and teamsters. 



Q. How long have they been there"? — A. Some of them since the first 

 year of the lease — eighteen years. Two have been recently taken into 

 the service, and even these two have already had three or four years' 

 experience. We do not regard them of much value until they have been 

 at least two years on the islands. 



Q. How long have you been there? — A. Eighteen years for the com- 

 pany and two years for the Government. 



Q. Do you know how many Government agents have been sent there 

 during that time? — A. I think nearly thirty. We figured it once, Mr. 

 Tingle and I, but I have forgotten the exact number. 



Mr. Tingle. It was twenty-two or twenty-three. 



Q. Therefore you judge by the past we would find that there would 

 be more changes under Government than under a corporation or com- 

 pany having it in charge"? — A. I think so. It has been the policy of 

 the company to keep a man as long as he is eflficient. 



Q. Whereas it is hardly the business of politics to do it? — A. That 

 goes without saying. 



Q. If our control of the islands of Bering Sea is essential, not only 

 for the preservation of the rookeries but for the protection of those who 

 are interested with the Government as lessees, is it not equally impor- 

 tant by way of preventing competition — which would, of course, reduce 

 the price of these skins and occasion a loss to both the less'ees and to 

 the Government, because the Government would have to take a less 

 rental and the company would have to take less for carrying on the 

 business — would that not be another reason why we should protect the 

 business? — A. I think it would. If the seal fisheries are allowed to be 

 broken up it is a complete loss to the world, and a large number of 

 people besides the lessees, and large interests other thau those of the 

 Government are directly or indirectly concerned in the business. 



Q. You were speaking of the protection of the seals beyond the 3-mile 

 limit oif the Straits of Fuca ; can you suggest any system by whi^ch 

 that can be done ? Could it be done otherwise than by declaring th.e 

 taking of seals as piracy, and would not that require the consent 

 of other nations ? — A. I think the consent of other nations could be 

 readily obtained, because other nations are equally interested in the 

 jireservation of the seals with the United States, and because the seals 

 belong to the United States by reason of being born and living on these 

 islands. When they are away from these isiands they are simply on 

 migratory tours. They go down to the southern latitudes to feed 

 simply, but they belong at all times upon the islands, and are astray 

 when they are not there. 



Q. It being conceded that the islands are their home, and no one 

 being interested other than the American and Russian Governments, 

 there would be no special reason why other nations would object "? — A. 

 Only the Governments of the United States and England are interested 

 in the Alaskan seal fisheries to any great extent. The United States is 

 interested in it as a producer of raw material, and England as a manu- 

 facturer of furs. If these two nations were agreed that seal life should 

 be protected, I think there Mould be no trouble in fully ])rotecting it. 

 It is a question of quite as much interest to England as to the United 

 States, for she has a large number of slcilled workmen, and a large 

 amount of capital engaged in this industry. 



