316 FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



Q. Why? — A. From marauders killing so many seals in the water. 

 I understand 75 to 80 per cent, of those killed are females. 



Q. Howdoj'ouaecountfor so great a number of females being killed? — 

 A. It is usual for the females to leave the beach and go out to feed in 

 the sea and leave the pups on shore. 



Q. The males remain on shore, do they ? — A. The breeding males re- 

 main on shore. The males do not require as much food as the females,, 

 because the latter have the pups to nurse. 



Q. The female soon after she arrives on the rookeries brings forth 

 her :\ ouug and some days after that she goes out into the sea in search 

 of food ? — A. Yes, sir; and often remains a day or two. 



Q. And it is during that time that these hunters intercept them? — 

 A. Yes, sir. 



Q. If they kill females are they not apt to kill the pup as well ? — A. 

 Yes, sir. 



Q. And if they wound a seal in the water, the seal is likely to sink 

 before they can recover it ? — A. There is no doubt about that. 



Q. What proportion do they recover of those that are killed by fire- 

 arms in the water? — A. Very few, I should suppose. I have never seen 

 a seal shot in the water, I have known of sea-lions that if wounded in 

 the water could be recovered, but if shot and killed they will sink. 



Q. In your judgment, what proportion of seals that are shot in the 

 water are recovered ? — A. It is hardly possible to r<cover one-half of 

 them. 



Q. Do you happen to know the extent of the depredations for the 

 last three or four years in those waters? — A. Yes, sir; I have been 

 familiar with that, more or less. 



Q. How many skins were taken surreptitiously and marketed since 

 188G, as far as you know ? — A. It is, of course, simply newspaper re- 

 ports that I am familiar with. I know of some instances where Vic- 

 toria vessels made a catch of 12,000 or 15,000 ; 1 have not paid particu- 

 lar attention to it. 



Q. Do you happen to know that the law limits the number to be taken 

 by the Alaska Commercial Company to 100,000 skins a year? — A. Yes, 

 sir. 



Q. That, in the judgment of Congress, was as much as the business 

 would stand ? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. If they kill, say 30,000 a year surreptitiously in addition to that 

 many skins, and kill mostly females, and in addition kill pups, what 

 effect would it have upon the rookeries in time? — A. No doubt the 

 rookeries would diminish very perceptibly in the first or the second 

 year. 



Q. Do you happen to know if any efforts are being made for the out- 

 fitting of vessels for the pur{)ose of killing seal during the coming 

 year? — A. Yes, sir; I left San Francisco a week or two ago, and I 

 learned from some friends that there were preparations being made 

 there to have a large number of vessels go out from San Francisco in 

 the spring. 



Q. Why are they encouraged to go out next spring?— A. I presume 

 in consequence of the non-seizure of vessels last season. 



Q. Do you know anything about what they are doing up in British 

 Columbia ? — A. No, sir, I do not ; I have no present knowledge. There 

 is no doubt there will be a large number fitted out from there and even 

 from the Japan and Chinese side also. 



Q. Is it your judgment that if the laws enforced in the United States 



