FUE-SEAL FISHERIES OE ALASItA. 331 



Q. There is no c6utract about it — no obligation that they shall sell 

 the catch to the company ? — A. None, except the moral obligation. 



Q. Have you noticed within the last few years any dimiuution of the 

 quantity of seals upon the rookeries'? — A. Yes, sir; in my tes*:iQiony in 

 regard to that matter, which is now on file, I have gone over it as fully 

 as I could do now. 



Q. How do 3^ou account for that ? — A. I think it is due to the maraud- 

 ers who trespass upon the business. 



Q. Is that dimiuution quite perceptible? — A. So much so that we are 

 in doubt whether we cau get our full quota of skins next season. 



Q. Do you have any trouble to get the full number ? — A. We were 

 unable to get the kind of skins we wanted. We take smaller skins now 

 than formerly. 



Q. Do the seals approach the islands in the same way that they for- 

 merly did ? — A. They seem to be coming later than they formerly did, 

 especially that class of animals that we desire to kill. 



Q. How do you account for that? — A. I think they are intimidated 

 by the marauders shooting them in the water on the grounds where 

 they are accustomed to feed. I know of no other reason why they 

 should be late. 



Q. What do you say as to the remedy? — A. I think a strict enforce- 

 ment of the law, as it stands, will be a complete remedy. 



Q. Existing law ? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. How would you doit? — A. Bypatroling the feeding grounds and 

 capturing any vessel that might be found taking seals. 



Q. In other words, ])rohibitiug the unlawful killing of fur seals in 

 Alaska waters? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Have you any estimate as to the number of seals that have been 

 unlawfully killed during the last two years? — A. We know the number 

 that are sent into market, and we estimate theuumberof animals that are 

 killed to obtain one skin. 



Q. What is your estimate as to the destruction of seal life compared 

 with the number of skins recovered ? — A. I think that not more than 

 one in five of those wounded can be captured, but how many of the 

 woun<led actually die, it is difficult to say. 



Q. Do not seals go to the rookeries that have been shot? — A. Very 

 often lead is found imbedded in the blubber, under the skin, of those 

 kdled on the islands. 



Q. Are the skins taken by these marauders put on the market in com- 

 petition with those on which a tax of $3.17^ is paid ? — A. Yes, sir ; they 

 are sold to the same purchasers. 



Q. Where are they sold ? — A. In London. 



Q. Sold by. Lamson & Co. at auction? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. How many revenue-cutters should be sent to Bering Sea ? — A, I 

 think one cutter constantly patroling the feeding grounds about the 

 Islands would be sufficient. If the Government vessel was there the 

 marauders would keep out of Bering Sea. 



Q. I suppose that the presence of the cutter would not be of much 

 benefit unless it was understood they were going to seize illicit seal- 

 ers? — A. A single cutter, unsupported by a i>roclai!nation from the 

 proper source, would be unable to maintain 'itself against them. I think 

 perhaps they would have rather niore respect for a proclamation from 

 the Chief Executive than for that from the Treasury Department. 



Q. You advise a i)roclamati()n by the President?— A. It would be 

 much more effective than one by the Secretary, because there was an 

 actual failure to enforce the orders of the Treasury Department during 



