3U FUR SEALS OF ALASKA, 
Mr. Fauixner. No; this is a conclusion of the report of 400 pages, 
a conclusion drawn from the facts which he has discussed in 400 pages. 
Mr. Witit14Ms, of Mississippi. Of course every opinion is based 
upon some fact. 
Mr. Fautkner. It is based on his reasoning, his experience, and 
observation in four distinct investigations ordered by this Government 
as its representative. 
Mr. Wixutams, of Mississippi. In that connection it may be science 
that God Almighty made a mistake to leave the cows and bulls to work 
out the problem in connection with natural selection. If so, it is the 
only mistake I have heard of him making, but it is certainly not com- 
mon sense to say that you must have man interfere with a wild animal 
and kill some of them in order to propagate the species to the best = 
advantage. 
Mr. Fautxner. We have had these scientists working on this ques- 
tion twenty years. We have sent these men time and time again, in 
fact, almost yearly. The Government sends experts to the islands to 
get new light and more information on the peculiar habits and charac- 
teristics of this animal. Their conclusions have been reached by the 
process of observation, experiment, and study. They are now giving 
to you their scientific conclusions and information acquired through 
those investigations. I can not give it to you. You could not give it 
tome. We must rely upon the Government officials, accredited to us 
as competent, capable, and honest men who are sent to make a study 
of these subjects. 
Mr. Witiams, of Mississippi. Yes; for facts, but not for conclu- 
sions and opinions. 
Mr. Fautxner. For facts. Ican not read you their arguments, their 
reasoning, their statistics, by which they reach these conclusions; I 
can not consume the valuable moments which your generous courtesy 
has allowed me to read these volumes; I can only give to you their 
conclusions and refer you in my brief to the pages of these reports, 
where you can read the reasoning and facts that justify their conclu- 
sions; that is as far as I can go. It would be asking too much to bur- 
den youfurther. [Reading from report of Leonard Stejneger, p. 228:] 
A suspension without total stoppage of pelagic sealing would be even more sense- 
less, as the females would continue to decrease at a much greater rate than the 
males, more females than males being killed at sea, and the resultant overstocking 
of the rookeries with bulls would be even more disproportionate and the more 
disastrous. 
Mr. Watson. That is not on account of the natural law at all, but 
they are reasoning that by pelagic sealing females will be killed and 
the males will not be killed on the land. But suppose you leave them 
all alone and do not kill any. 
Mr. Fautxyer. If you believe this fact—that 80 per cent of females 
are killed at sea—that the proportion of the sexes at birth is equal; 
that the habits of the animal is polygamous, when 50 to 150 cows are 
served by one bull, you will see that the full male life of the herd is 
not necessary to preserve and perpetuate the herd: I mean to the 
extent of the birth of the male. 
Mr. Wii1aMs, of Mississippi. But on the contrary they are pur- 
posely placed that way so they can fight it out and the strongest may 
procreate the species, and it is by the struggle, the fighting, that the 
strongest and best fittest survive and serve the females. 
