■ FUR-SEAL FLSIIERIES OP ALASKA. 165 



the marauding very mucli. So that this spiiiifj I jiot information that 

 there wouhl be no schooners in Bering; Sea this year; tliut tbey couhl not 

 get crews. The Indians woukl not ship, as tliey were afraid of being- cap- 

 tured. When I came out of Bering Sea on the Alasl^a Commercial Com- 

 pany's steamer, leaving the islands on the loth of Anjjnst, we had not seen 

 a single vessel in Bering Sea. When we got to Oonalaska it was rumored 

 that Captain Shepherd had seen a British and an American vSchooner, 

 but I do not know whether he did or not. I could not get any authen- 

 tic information in regard to it. It has been stated that from the fact of 

 our not seizing them there was a backing down on the part of the ad- 

 ministration. 



Mr. Felton. That is mere newspaper rumor. 



The Witness. That is mere newspaper rumor. I have seen no evi- 

 dence of any backing down on the part of the administration on the 

 question of our rijjhts in the Bering Sea, and I do not believe there 

 has been aiiy backing down. 



Q. Do you think that the interest in those rookeries, in an economic 

 point of view, are of sufficient value to justify the Government in adopt- 

 ing stringent measures for their protection?— A. I most unquestion- 

 ably do. The property is of immense value. 



Q. Can it be increased by protection? — A. Certainly. It is of great 

 value to the people of the country and of the world. The seal is the 

 only fur-bearing animal now extant that furnishes a valuable garment, 

 and to perpe,tuate them will be to supply a want of the people which is 

 of more value than the mere matter of income to the Government. 



Q. Do you think that the Governmeut could increase the revenue 

 from that source ? — A. Unquestionably it could, if it will adopt such 

 measures as will protect the seals. 



Q. What additional measures would you suggest? — A. I think it is a 

 very small matter to inaugurate some plan. I think the enactment of 

 something like a game law that will reach and i)rotect the seals wher- 

 ever they are, and which would be agreed to by England and Kussia, 

 would be advisable. 



Q. This Government might come to an agreement between those 

 countries to protect the seal wherever they are found within and with- 

 out the jurisdiction of the United States? — A. I think those countries 

 would agree to that; I have not any doubt of that. 



Q. Do you think they are sufficiently valuable to the Government to 

 attempt to secure such a privilege? — A. Yes, sir; the only income we 

 get from Alaska is derived from the fur seals; speaking of it merely as 

 a commercial transaction and as a property, our fur-seal islands alone 

 are worth a sum equal to the sum we paid for tlie entire territory, 

 $7,200,000. I think they are worth that. Now, if the Government 

 loses this income it had better try lo get Kussia to take back the country, 

 because it is not worth anything outside of the seal business, excei)t 

 for a few salmon and codtish they are catching now, which business is 

 still in its infancy. The fishing interest will ultimately be very exten- 

 sive. 



Q. You would extend protection to the seals in Bering Sea and also 

 to the North Pacitic? — A. Yes, sir; over Bering Sea and the North 

 Pacific. I would certainly claim jurisdiction over our half of Bering 

 Sea. It is also very important to do it in the North Pacific Ocean. The 

 canning of fish has increased very largely in Alaska. Last year it was 

 187,500 cases, and this year it is over '400,000. But, without the fur 

 seal, Alaska would be very expensive for our Government to guard and 

 protect, and the loss of the fur seal to the people of the world would 



