FUR SEALS OF ALASKA. 53 
ered to be a scientific as well as a practical standpoint. Iam familiar 
with the literature on the subject. 
T have read Professor Elliott’s work and I appreciate very fully the 
ability he has shown asa naturalist. I give him all credit for the 
interest he has taken in this problem and the efforts he has made to 
accomplish what he considers the best solution of it. But at the same 
time I do not think that Mr. Elliott intends to claim any monopoly of 
expert knowledge on the subject. There tre other gentlemen in the 
country who have given equal time to it and who are equally qualified 
to speak, and they seem to take a different view of the present situa- 
tion. I feel that the Department is bound to follow the weight of 
opinion in this matter, and to accept the practically unanimous judg- 
ment of these other scientists. 
We have described to these experts the conditions that exist to-day. 
They have had a chance to study them from the latest available facts. 
We have their responses in writing, and they are unanimous in the 
opinion that it would be both unnecessary and unwise to require a total 
suspension of the killing in the manner called for by the resolution. 
I want to say to the committee that the restrictions I proposed this 
morning would be considered extreme by these gentlemen. There is 
not one of these scientists who has suggested measures that are nearly 
as radical as those I have proposed. I have purposely made the regu- 
lations somewhat extreme, in the view of these gentlemen, with the 
idea of being on the safe side, particularly during this first year of the 
Department’s administration of the seal service. 
So much in a general way. There is only one other point I want to 
take up, and that is the analysis Mr. Elliott has made of the London 
sales. 
Mr. Warson. After you have determined on the method of pro- 
cedure and fixed the limit, do you think there will be any trouble in 
having your orders executed, absolutely ? 
Mr. Hircncoos. Ido not. Itis my opinion that those orders can 
be executed. As I said, the orders are so stringent that even if they 
are somewhat imperfectly executed there will be little danger of any 
serious injury to the herd. 
Mr. Wituiams. Is there anybody up there to watch and see if the 
orders are executed? 
Mr. Hrreucocr. During the sealing season there are four of our 
agents on the islands—two on each island. There is an agent on each 
island the year round; and during the period of active operations 
there are two additional men there to help supervise the work. I have 
no reason to believe, from what I have seen of the records, that they 
do not do their work faithfully. 
Mr. Watson. Do they change very often, or are the same fellows 
there nearly all the time? 
Mr. Hircucock. No change has been made now for some years, 
and I should like to say in regard to the agent Mr. Elliott referred 
to as having been a former employee of the company that he has 
never been in charge of the islands. He is merely a subordinate. It 
is true, however, that this agent was previously in the employ of the 
company. 
Mr. Hitz. He is an honest man? 
Mr. Hrroncock. Yes; as far as I can judge. 
Mr. Hirw. If he is honest it does not make any difference. 
