FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 235 



By Mr. Felton : 

 Q. You think one revenue-cutter would be suflBcieDt for that pur- 

 pose ? — A. Yes. sir ; oue cutter, I think, would protect our interests 

 pretty well. 



By Mr. Macdonald : 

 Q. If it was not required to perform any other duty ? — A. Y^es, sir; it 

 should not be required to perform any other duty. 



By Mr. Felton : 



Q. I understand you to say — for instance, takinfj 1887 or 1888 — that 

 the 100,000 seals taken upon the islands and the 40,000 taken and killed in 

 the water, if no greater amount w as taken, that there would be no per- 

 ceptible diminution in the number of seal; that by the natural increase 

 the company might take 40,000 more than now, if it were not for the 

 depredations? — A. I had in mind an average between 25,000 killed in 

 1888 and about 4O,0i.O in 1887. 



Q. What I want to know is this : Is it your opinion that the number 

 taken in the sea, when they are on the way from the islands to the 

 feeding grounds, have a tendency to demoralize the seal and to break 

 up their habits, their confidence! etc. f— A. It would be likely to do it. 

 They are very easily frightened, and the discharge of fire-arms has a 

 tendency to frighten them away. 



By Mr. Macdonald : 

 Q. Ko seals are killed by the company in this way? — A. No, sir; 

 they are all killed on the islands with clubs. 



By Mr. Felton: 



Q. Including seals in the water, is not a large number of those killed 

 females'? — A. Yes, sir; all ages, sizes^ and sexes. 



Q. When they kill them, are the females usually with pup ? — A. Many 

 are. 



Q. In that case it would be a loss of two ? — A. I have seen a great 

 many skins of unborn pup seals taken from females. Those skins are 

 not marketable and the crew usually take them for their own use. 



By the Chairman : 



Q. While you were upon the islands of St. George and St. Paul 

 did you observe or inquire as to whether or not the natives accorded a 

 ready and respectful compliance with the requirements of the Govern- 

 ment agents there?— A. I think they do, willingly. The Government 

 officer is there for the government of the natives as well as to look after 

 the general interests of the Government. 



Q. Would they repudiate the authority of the Government officer in 

 any conflicts of a serious nature? — A. Not in any serious manner. I 

 do not know any particular instance, but I understood that they ob- 

 jected sometimes to rules made by the Government agents, but how 

 serious they were I can not say. They asked that they should be allowed 

 certain privileges and the Government objected. 



Q. Did you inquire just what they were?— A. No, sir; I do not re- 

 member anything especially. 



Q. What are your observations as to the conduct of the agents of the 

 com|)any in that respect? Did you observe any conflicts between the 

 agents and employes of the company upon those islands and the Treas- 

 ury agents?— A. No, sir; I have heard nothing except that Mr. Gavitt 

 stated here the other day. I heard of some trouble he had at St. 

 George last winter. 



