INVESTIGATION OF THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 155 



"December 7, 1909. This letter from the 'bureau,' dated December 16, 1909, and 

 signed by Barton W. Evermann, urges Bowers to send agents to New York, there to 

 'educate' the Camp Fire Club and induce them to agree to the 'bureau's idea of 

 renewing the lease,' as follows: 



"[Exhibit No. 6.] 



"Department of Commerce and Labor, 



"Bureau op Fisheries, 

 " Washington, December 16, 1909. 

 "The Commissioner: 



"The Washington Star of December 10 last announced that the Campnre Club, of 

 New York, had inaugurated a campaign to save the fur-seal herd through legislation 

 designed to prevent the re-leasing of the sealing right, the cessation of all killing on 

 the islands for 10 years except for natives' food, and to secure the opening of negotia- 

 tions with Great Britain to revise the regulations of the Paris tribunal. As the result 

 of this movement, on December 7 three resolutions were introduced by Senator Dixon, 

 of Montana, one of which embodies the provisions before mentioned, the other two 

 calling for the publication of fur-seal correspondence and reports since 1904. 



"As the object of this movement is at variance with the program of this bureau and 

 of the recommendations of the advisory fur-seal board, notably in the plan to prevent 

 killing and the renewal of the seal island lease, the advisability is suggested of having 

 Messrs. Townsend, Lucas, and Stanley-Brown use their influence with such members 

 of the Camp fire Club as they may be acquainted with with the object of correctly 

 informing the club as to the exact present status of the seal question and of securing 

 its cooperation to effect the adoption of the measures advocated by this bureau. 1 



"The attached letter is prepared, having in view the object stated. 



"Barton W. Evermann. 



"Exhibit No. 7. Being the official letter of 'George M. Bowers, commissioner,' 

 to Secretary Commerce and Labor, dated February 8, 1910, inclosing copies of three 

 letters, all urging renewal of the seal lease and giving the reasons of the writers for 

 such renewal, to wit, H. H. Taylor, president N. A. C. Co. (lessees), dated January 

 27, 1910; C. H. Townsend, for 'fur-seal advisory board,' dated January 31, 1910; 

 Alfred Fraser, London agent for the N. A. C. Co. (lessees), January 28, 1910, as follows ' ' 

 (not printed) : 



LETTERS OF CHIEF SPECIAL AGENT CHAS. J. GOFF, WHO WAS REMOVED 

 FROM THE SEAL ISLANDS OF ALASKA BY THE LESSEES APRIL 5, 1891, 

 BECAUSE HE WOULD NOT PERMIT THEM TO VIOLATE THE LAW AND 

 INJURE THE PUBLIC PRESERVES THEREON, WRITTEN TO SHOW HIS 

 FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THE RASCALITY WHICH SECURED HIS REMOVAL, 

 MAY 9, 1891, AND AUGUST 16, 1891, AND EXPOSING THE SAME. 



(Mr. GofT was the brother of United States Senator Nathan Goff, 

 of West Virginia. He died several years ago. — -H. W. E.) 



Montreal, May 9, 1891. 



My Dear Mr. Elliott: Your favor just received, and I am glad 

 you are still in the land of the living and ready and willing to expose 

 the Bering Sea steal. You say there will be a commission go to the 

 islands this summer to investigate. I am afraid Tingle will have 



i Committee on Expenditures in the 

 Department of Commerce and Labor, 



House of Representatives, 



Friday, June 9, 1911. 



The committee met at 10 o'clock a. m., Hon. John H. Rothermel (chairman) presiding. 



TESTIMONY OF ME. GEORGE M. BOWERS, COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



Mr. Bowers. No new lease was made, but the killing was done under governmental supervision. 



Mr. Townsend. You will be questioned about that later. After the first suggestion of this bill you 

 know of no efforts that were made to delay the passage of that legislation? 



Mr. Bowers. I know of no effort that was made to delay the passage of that legislation. 



Mr. Townsend. And if any evidence should be introduced to the contrary, it would surprise you? 



Mr. Bowers. So far as I am concerned it would, yes; and as far as I am concerned it would the Bureau 

 of Fisheries and the department. [Hearing No. 3, p. 157, July 6, 1911, House Committee on Expenditures 

 in the Department of Commerce and Labor.] 



