FUR SEALS OF ALASKA. : 21 
islands that has been put there under the faith of this contract should 
be condemned, its value paid for by the United States, the public bear- 
ing in the interest of national necessity and public policy which you 
deem wise to inaugurate, the burden, and not place that burden alone 
upon the shoulders of a single corporation. 
lt strikes me that isa sound doctrine. Every lawyer at this table 
must recognize itas such. If you are willing to step beyond the bounds 
of this contract (which you assume to control absolutely by a direction 
to your Secretary or by the direct act of Congress), then you should 
condemn this property if the public necessity of the country requires 
it, and let all bear the burden, and not impose it upon a single 
corporation. 
Mr. Chairman, there is one question here that I regard as of vital 
importance, and to me it is the most serious question involved in this 
controversy. What is it? It is adeclaration (if this joint resolution 
should pass) by Congress that in order to preserve the seal herd the 
killing must be stopped upon the islands. What does that declaration 
mean, when you take the history of this subject during the last twenty 
years into consideration? It means simply this, Mr. Chairman, that 
such a solemn declaration by Congress is a distinct denial of the cor- 
rectness of the position taken by the Government of the United 
States in the international controversies relative to this subject with 
Great Britain during the last twenty years. We have stood upon the 
proposition sustained by every report (except Great Britain’s experts 
at that time, and Professor Elliott), upon the firm foundation that the 
killing of seals under proper regulations by the Government upon land 
did not deplete the herd or injure the industry. 
Mr. Hrwx. Senator, was not that accompanied by the concurrent 
action of other nations in regard to killing at sea at the same time? 
Mr. Fautxner. The position was firm and unquestionable, so far as 
we were concerned, in all our negotiations, that the killing on land 
pole proper regulations did not in any way affect the increase of the 
erd. ; 
The Cuarrman. Right there, Senator Faulkner. I have always 
understood in the argument of Mr. Elliott before this committee that 
the great cause of the destruction of the seal herd was this pelagic 
sealing. 
Mr. Faurxyner. He takes the other view. 
The Coatrman. No; I have heard him argue time after time of the 
inhumanity of killing the mothers while they are on the way to the 
feeding ground, and he has shown pictures of the young seals dying 
of starvation by reason of the killing of the mothers. He has made. 
that argument before this committee time and time again. 
Mr. Fautxner. That was his view, there is no question about it, 
up to 1890. 
The Cuarrman. I have heard him express that view time and time 
again since 1890, and you will find 
Mr. Fauiener. He puts it in the report of 1890 on both grounds. 
As he stated yesterday, it 1s useless to stop pelagic sealing, he says, 
unless you stop the killing on the land. 
Mr. Exxiorr. That is right. 
Mr. Fautkyer. Our position has been the reverse. It has been 
taken after the most mature consideration and exatnination of this 
subject by the most competent experts and scientists appointed by the 
