318 FUK-SEAL FISHEKIES OF ALASKA. 



much in excess of that of any previous year, and that the probability i& 

 there will be from thirty-five to forty vessels that will go from that port. 

 Information from Victoria, derived from the house of Martin Bates & 

 Co., of New York, states that their purchaser writes that, owing to the 

 lack of seizure of British vessels and others in Bering Sea last year, 

 some 22,500 skins were landed and put on the market in Victoria, that 

 the result would be in his expectation that at least 50,000 or 60,000 

 skins would be put on the market in Victoria the comiug year, and that 

 vessels are preparing for that purpose to go out early in the spring. That 

 is all the information I have on the subject. 



Q. As you have been engaged in this business since you were a young 

 man, and your father and grandfather before j^ou, from your knowledge 

 of the business, what would you say would be the effect upon seal life 

 of the taking of 50,000 or 60,000 skins by these unlawful marauders f — 

 A. The waste would be very great, very much larger than the number 

 ot skins represented, for this reason: Most of the skins which are taken 

 by these so-called marauders are those of females. These females that 

 are killed usually have a pup, which they have left on shore while they 

 have gone off the islands to feed. When the female is killed the pup 

 dies on shore from the lack of sutstenance, and that destroys the possi- 

 bility of further production. The record shows that of the number of seals 

 that are killed or wounded but a small proportion are recovered. From 

 my own estimates, from my experience in the matter, I am inclined to 

 think that it would be at the very lowest one-half. 1 think 00,000 skins 

 certainly represent over ] 30,000 seals that have'beeu shot, wounded, or 

 killed. 



Q. You are one of the principal shareholders and managers of the 

 Alaska Commercial Con)]>any ? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Does the company know from its agents or otherwise that the 

 number of seals on the rookeries lately, withiu the last year or two, is 

 diminishing! — A. It does. 



Q'. It has such reports from the agents on the islands ? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. What do you say as to the company having been unable to get its 

 full quota of proper marketable skins last year ? — A. It was unable to 

 get its full quota. 



Q. For what reason ? — A. By reason of the interference of marauding 

 vessels in Bering Sea. 



Q. What will be the result if that continues ? — A. Extermination of 

 seal life on the rookeries. That means the extermination of the native 

 poi)ulation. 



Q. Prior to 1885 were there any depredations ? — A. There were so few 

 as to hardly be noticeable. 



Q. The Crovernment had taken a stand? — A. Up to that time it was 

 not considered safe for a vessel to venture in there. 



Q. What do you say would be the result if the existing law prohibit- 

 ing seal killing in Alaskan waters and Bering Sea were properly en- 

 forced ? — A. The suppression of illicit killing. 



Q. W^ould the rookeries then yield 100,000 skins annually without 

 depreciating f — A. After a year or two. It would take some little time 

 for them to recover. 



Q. Do you know Mr. Webster ! — A. I do. 



Q. How long have you known him*? — A. Forty years, and upwards. 



Q. Was he ever in your employ ? — A. Yes, sir ; a great many years. 



Q. What doing ? — A. He sailed in tny vessels in almost every position 

 from a boy to first mate of a ship. 



Q. How loug"^ — A. Fifteen or twenty years. 



