INVESTIGATION" OF THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 19 



States, on page 118, the United States commissioners, Merriam and Mendenhall, have 

 this to say touching the salted weights: 



The British commissioners further rely upon Mr. Elliott's statement that skins 

 weigh from 5^ pounds to 12 pounds (sec. 672), and upon the comparison of such state- 

 ment with that of Lieut. Maynard, an independent observer, who gives the average 

 weight of bundles as 22 pounds and the weight of the largest as 64 pounds (sec. 672); 

 this appears to the commissioners to require some explanation (sec. 673). The impli- 

 cation is evident, and the United States offer the explanation in vindication of the 

 officers of the Government who are thus charged. A bundle contains not only the 

 two skins proper, but salt and blubber with which they are packed for their preserva- 

 tion. This naturally adds greatly to the weight, as does also the moisture collected 

 by the salt and fur. 



That sustains me completely about the increased weight of "green" skins after they 

 are cured on the islands, and our Government carried that claim as a voucher to Paris. 

 It was never disputed by either side at those sessions of the bering Sea Tribunal, held 

 there from April to August, 1893. 



The Chairman. It is 12 o'clock, and I think we will adjourn now. 



Mr. McGuire. In case Mr. Elliott is to make any more statements, 

 I think Dr. Evermann and Mr. Lembkey should be subpoenaed. 



The Chairman. Well, bring them in here; that is all right, but I 

 do not care to subpoena anybody. 



Mr. Jones. Dr. Evermann is out West, and he probably will not 

 be at home until about November 1. He probably will not be here 

 until then, unless you wish him to appear. I do not know where 

 Mr. Lembkey is now. 



Mr. Allen. He is in the city, or was a few days ago. 



The Chairman. It is my desire to allow ever} 7 body to come in now 

 if they wish to hear what is going on. I wish to say this, that so far 

 as I am concerned, though not speaking for the committee, it looks 

 to me as if blubber had been added to the skins to increase the 

 weight of skins taken from small seals that were killed on the islands, 

 and I would like to have that cleared up. If the skin taken from a 

 small seal is blubbered to the extent of about 2 or 2 J pounds, and it 

 is reported by our agent on the island to weigh as much as the skin 

 taken from a seal that is much larger than that in order to bring it 

 within the regulations, I think this committee and Congress ought to 

 know it, and if that is done, I have no doubt the lessees on those 

 islands should be held responsible. 



Mr. McGuire. I do not want to be misunderstood, but up to date 

 from the hearings before the committee — I do not know what the 

 outside information is — I differ from the chairman as to the amount 

 of blubber that has been taken from the seals for the purpose of add- 

 ing to the weight of the skins. There are various reasons for that 

 view. In the first place, there is no occasion foi it, because, after the 

 Government took charge of the business, nobody could get anything 

 out of it. Now, as to what occuned piior to that time, I have not 

 gone into very extensively, but I never thought that a good reason. 

 But I differ apparently from the chairman and from the testimony 

 now given on the question of whether an unnecessary amount of 

 blubber is left on the skins. I a^o differ from the doctor and from 

 the chairman on the question of how many, if any, yearlings were 

 taken. Now, the reason why I thought these parties ought to be 

 heard, if the doctor is to run over this question of measurements again, 

 is because it is evident that they all differ from him, and, to be frank 

 about it, I think the doctor exhibited a good deal of animosity, and 

 I think they did, too, or some of them did. I think Dr. Jordan is too 



