24 FUR SEALS OF ALASKA. 
that. point when the reduction in the number of the herd will render 
it unprofitable to continue pelagic sealing. 
Mr. Hitt. You propose to let it be decreased to that point’ 
Mr. Fautxner. No, sir. 
Mr. Hint. What action do you propose to prevent it? 
Mr. Fautxner. I propose that the Government proceed with its 
negotiations as rapidly as possible with the hope that it will, by 
proper conventions with England, Japan, and Russia, stop pelagic 
sealing and, in the mean time, the Secretary of Commerce and Labor 
having the power to regulate the number of seals killed annually, the 
herd can be protected and improved on land and at the same time a 
fair revenue from this industry will be brought into the Treasury. 
Mr. Hirut. What do you mean—to reduce the number that are 
killed on land? 
Mr. Fautxner. Yes; he has the power under this lease to reduce it 
to any number that he may deem proper. 
Mr. Hiri. I thought your position was that it did not affect the 
case to kill on land. Why is the necessity for reducing the killing on 
land ? 
Mr. FauuKner. As the herd decreases of course you are bound to 
reduce the number killed on land, for the reason that there is not that 
number of killable seals. 
Mr. Coopsr. Is there any way for this Government to prevent the 
killing at sea? 
Mr. Fautxner. No, sir; none at all except by international agree- 
ment. ; 
Mr. Wiitrams, of Mississippi. I understood you yesterday—and, 
thinking about it afterwards, I thought perhaps I misunderstood you 
to say that the number of seals killed last year was only about 50 per 
cent of what they were the year previous to that. 
Myr. Fautxner. No, sir; that was with reference to pelagic sealing. 
No; the number was about 19,000, I think. 
Mr. Exxriorr. Twenty-two thousand in the last three years. 
Mr. Fautxner. I did not make that statement. 
Mr. Wittiams, of Mississippi. That was it, then; you referred to 
the pelagic sealing? 
Mr. Fautxner. Yes; the number of killed by this report, and it 
only goes to 1891. In 1903 it was 19,000, I think. 
Mr. Exxiorr. Twenty-two thousand for the last three years. 
Mr. Wituiams, of Mississippi. If the killing by pelagic sealing 
decreased 50 per cent, the reason of the decrease was that they could 
not find the seals, was it not? 
Mr. Fautxyer. I am satisfied that the closed season and the reduc- 
tion in the number of seals together had that effect. In other words, 
the reports show that there were only about 50 per cent of the number 
of vessels engaged in pelagic sealing last year that had previously been 
engaged in it, and the supposition of all parties in interest is that the 
result of that reduction in the number of vessels engaged in the catch 
was for the reason that it was not so paying an industry as formerly. 
Mr. Wiuuiams, of Mississippi. Carrying that fact, if that is true, it 
must have been because the heard had decreased so much that there 
was not enough business for over 50 per cent of the ships that were in 
it before? 
Mr. Fautxner. Of course, do not let the committee misunderstand 
me—— 
