56 FUR SEALS OF ALASKA. 
does not mean a pup in the sense in which the term is used on the 
islands. In trade usage it means a much older seal. I find that the 
class of skins termed ‘‘large pups,” of which there are 1,500, averaged 
in weight 7 pounds 5 ounces. Now, if that average weight is cor- 
rect—and I have no reason to doubt it since it isa matter of trade 
information—the 1,500 seals which Mr. Elliott placed in the 2-year- 
old class should be transferred over to the ‘‘ prime” column and added 
to the 646 skins of 38-year-old and 4-year-old seals. 
In other words, these records show a total of 2,146 seals above the 
age of 2 years, which you will immediately see controverts Mr. Elli- 
ott’s contention that last season the company did not get any seals to 
speak of over the age of 2 years. 
Furthermore, I find that the average weight of the class known as 
‘middling pups,” of which there were 4,631, was 6 pounds 4 ounces, 
while the average weight of the class known as ‘‘small pups,” of 
which there were 6,128, was 5 pounds 6 ounces. According to Mr. 
Elliott’s classification, therefore, these two classes should be trans- 
ferred from his column designated ‘‘eye plasters or yearling seals” to 
the column of ‘‘short” skins, or skins of seals that were, according to 
his own statement, 2 years old. By combining these two classes we 
have a total of 10,759 skins of seals that had reached the age of 2 years. 
Now, that leaves for the smallest class skins of 44 to 5 pounds only 
2,340, and consequently an entirely different aspect is given to the 
compilation he has made. A correct analysis of the London sales will 
show conclusively that under the regulations as enforced by our agents 
the great. bulk of the skins taken last season were skins of so-called 
2-year-olds, the proportion of skins under that age being exceedingly 
small. There is evidence, however, and plain evidence, too, that some 
very small skins were also taken. The figures do not show whether 
any of these were the skins of yearlings—that is, of seals only a year 
old; but the indications are that skins of seals under 2 years of age, 
according to the accepted classification by weights, were taken to 
some extent, but certainly not in anything like the numbers claimed 
by Mr. Elliott. 
I felt that I wanted to place these facts before the committee, Mr. 
Chairman, because Mr. Elliott has laid the principal stress of his 
argument on the supposition that the company was unable last season, 
owing to the depleted condition of the herd, to get more than a mere 
handful of seals over two years of age. From his analysis of the 
London sales he argues that the killable seals have been cut down, as 
he expresses it, to the very dregs. From my own analysis of these 
sales, based on what I believe to be the correct average weights, I can 
not admit the accuracy of Mr. Elliott’s deductions. The average 
weights he has used are unquestionably too low, and consequently his 
argument on that basis as to the necessity for the radical measure pro- 
posed in this resolution is without proper foundation. 
I thank you for your attention. 
The Crarrman. If there is nothing further, we will adjourn. 
Thereupon (at 3.20 o'clock p. m.) the committee adjourned. 
