172 FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



can come in upon the rookeries in a fog, o-o ashore, kill seals, and get 

 in their boats and go off before a cutter could overhaul them. The cut- 

 ter might be on the other side. The marauders could load up and get 

 off. 



Q. As a matter of fact, the seals do go out beyond 3 miles ? — A. 

 They probably go 20 miles out in some cases. It takes 12,000,000 or 

 15,000,000 of fish every day to feed these seals. It is iuimense, and 

 they have to go a great distance to get them. These marauders would 

 want nothing better than a 3-mile limit, because they could kill a 

 boat-load and get away and never be overhauled or caught at all. The 

 practical extermination of the seals would be assured, and the only 

 question would be as to the time it would take, whether three, four, or 

 five years ; and I certainly think in five years the last seal would be 

 gone. 



By Mr. Felton : 

 Q. You believe it is indisi)ensable that they be preserved at Behring 

 Sea ?— A. Absolutely. Protection should be extended to the North Pa- 

 cific Ocean, if possible, also, as a large number are killed en route to 

 the Bering Sea. 



By Mr. Jeffries : 



Q. Will you state whether or not the United States own the seal isl- 

 ands of Alaska ? — A. They do, certainly. 



Q. Aside from the revenue derived from the seal islands, does the 

 Treasury receive any other income? — A. Not a dollar, except a little 

 customs revenue. 



Q. Does it receive as much as it costs to collect it? — A. No, sir; not 

 one-fourth as much. 



Q. If we withdraw this protection and declare these waters a high 

 sea and allow the fur seals to be destroyed, to what extent would tlie 

 United States be affected ! — A. She would be affected to tlie extent of 

 an absolute loss of all the revenue from the seal business. 



Q. Do you know how much that has been under the i)resent lease ? — 

 A. The Government receives $317,500 annually from the Alaska Com- 

 mercial Company. 



Q. How about the duties paid on seal skins when they return to the 

 country? — A. The duty is 20 ])er cent, ad valorem. 



Q. What is the total amount of that duty?— A. I understand that 

 the entire amount is something over $3,000,000 from duties alone. 



Q. In regard to the management of tlie business by Treasury agents, 

 woukl not that be an unusual thing? — A. Yes, sir ; it would be very un- 

 usual, but it could be done. It wouhl be feasible. 



Q. Are there not certahi incidentals that the Government could not 

 safely manage ; for instance, stimulating fashions, and expending money 

 in European capitals ? — A. Of course there are a great many questions 

 that might arise that would be difficult for the Government to handle, 

 and therefore I say that while it is possible for the Government to man- 

 age it in the way I have suggested, I should decidedly recommend the 

 present plan. 



Q. You think the Government had better not? — A. I think it had 

 better not, because I do not believe that any one administration is go- 

 ing to remain in power always, and therefore they would change super- 

 intendents too often. 



By Mr. Felton : 

 Q. I take it that the Government could be induced to give the power 



