FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 155 



old bulls to go upon the breeding line. They would be torn to pieces 

 if they attempted it. They would like to, but they can not possibly do 

 it until they are about seven years old. 



Q. So that these bachelor seals are the only seals that are driven and 

 killed"? — A. Yes, sir; they are obliged by the nature of things to haul 

 out by themselves. Drives are made from the hauling grounds of the 

 bachelors, and females rarely get on these grounds. They are driven 

 up to the killing grounds in front of the village, where tliey are killed 

 and skinned. We k^ep a daily record of the number of seals killed. I 

 do not know that jou desire it, but 1 went up to the Treasury Depart- 

 ment and got a statement of the daily killing, which shows the system 

 of keeping our accounts. 



Q. You keep that and return it to the Treasury Department as an 

 account of your daily killing ? — A, Yes, sir. 



As an exhibit to my evidence, I will append copies of my annual 

 statements of the killing of fur seals, with explanatory headings, show- 

 ing- total number killed of all kinds for 1887 and 1888, which will illus- 

 trate the system. 



Q. You say it has been found practically impossible to make the 

 count upon the islands and at the custom-house correspond exactly ? — 

 A. Certainly ; it will vary a few skins every year. 



Q. Is there found to be a material diflerence?— A. No, sir j never a 

 material difference. 



Q. On which count does the company pay "? — A. On my count at the 

 islands. The law says that •' the tax shall be paid on all fur-seal skins 

 taken and shipped" from the islands. Before I was appointed by this 

 administration the Treasury Department had changed the place of pay- 

 ing the tax, and ordered that the tax be paid on the count at San Fran- 

 cisco. The reason for doing it was that the discrepancies running 

 through a term of years showed the San Francisco count to be a little 

 more than the island count — a few skins more — and the company pre- 

 ferred paying on the greater amount, so that there might be no ques- 

 tion of its receiving skins that it had not paid for. That is my under- 

 standing. I do not know that there w^as ever any question about it on 

 account of the discrepancies ; they were slight and unavoidable. The 

 law requires clearly that the tax shall be paid on the island count, and 

 the administration so ordered. These counts have never varied more 

 than thirty or forty skins between the island count and the San Fran- 

 cisco count. 



Q. During your administration has the company faithfully performed 

 its contract to the Government and the natives, and in the preservation 

 of seal life, and in every other respect? — A. Yes, sir ; it has performed 

 all its obligations under the lease. I have never had occasion to com- 

 plain in any instance, except once or twice on a little difference that 

 grew up between the general agent, Mr. Mclntire, and myself about 

 matters of policy, and it was always adjusted very readily by the com- 

 pany always sustaining my views. They were matters of trivial im- 

 portance — things not necessary to report to the Department, and which 

 the company regulated themselves. The company has never failed to 

 perform its duty since I have been on the islands. The truth is, they 

 have done too much for those natives. I have complained a little myself 

 of that. They have educated the natives and carried them along to ex- 

 pect more than they may receive hereafter from somebody else, and 

 there may be trouble on that account. 



Q. By doing more for them than the law requires ? — A. Yes, sir; 

 more than the law requires and more than is necessary- for their com- 



