44 FUR SEALS OF ALASKA. 
bound by a distinct statement to this committee that he will restrict 
this killing of young male seals beyond all question, so as to really © 
save them. 
The Cuarrman. What we want to hear is whether we shall pass this 
resolution. 
Mr. Exxiort. This resolution will put the matter of excessive land 
killing on the islands beyond any power of interference with the 
Department for at least three or four years. It will rest and save the 
few choice young male seals now alive and permit them to grow up, 
so as to reach the breeding grounds by 1907 or 1908, where they must 
appear then or we will lose the life itself. The resolution permits him 
to kill ‘‘food” seals; he then kills only the poor ones; there is no 
incentive or stimulus to get the good ones, which would prevail were 
the lessees to have the selections of the ‘‘ food” skins, after he had 
given them a permit to kill—this resolution puts him in sole charge, 
and then the difficulty of the thing is obviated at once. 
Mr. Crark. This last gentleman seems to indicate that these active 
bulls, the heads of families, segregate themselves from these bachelor 
bulls; that the bachelor bulls are driven off to reservations. Is that so? 
Mr. Exsiorr. These young fellows are not allowed by the old bulls 
to go where the breeding is going on. A young male must attain a 
growth of six years before it is physically heavy and strong enough 
to fight with the breeding bulls for a place on the rookery. To stay 
there he must be at least as old as that. 
Mr. Crarg. Now, if there is enough of these active bulls that get 
together with the cows, and these other fellows are entirely separated 
from them, what harm would it do to kill that whole gang? 
Mr. Exuiotr. They must grow up so as to fill those places on the 
breeding grounds which become vacant by reason of old age and 
excessive service. 
Mr. Crarx. Just the young ones, I mean. 
Mr. Extiotr. They are all young ones. 
Mr. Crarx. What becomes of the surplus old ones? 
Mr. Extiotr. They lie right on the rookeries, and do nothing; they 
are the superaged and impotent-old bulls, which can neither attract, 
nor control, nor serve as breeders; they lie around, somnolent for 
a season or two, then disappear by death. 
. ie CrarK. But they are not mixed up with these active, breeding 
ULLS ¢ 
Mr. Exxiorr. No; for the best of reasons. They are impotent; and 
the prepotent bulls pay no attention to them; nor do the cows; the 
rookery grounds are so scant in life now that there is plenty of room 
for these old and worthless bulls to lie in there, undisturbed, with 
harems all around. 
Mr. Crark. Why not knock them in the head and get the skins? 
Mr. Evuiotr. The skins are not valuable. - 
The Cuairman. Don’t you think the idea carried out by My. Hitch- 
cock allowing them to kill 15,000 would leave a sufficient supply of 
bulls for all purposes of propagation ? 
Mr. Exniorr. If I thought Mr. Hitchcock would be there to enforce 
the grades of selection which he says he will order spared, and which 
a announced to you this morning, year after year, I would not 
esitate. 
