182 IlfTVESTIGATION OP THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 



it then, and that in 1896 they first began to kill yearling seals for the 

 lessees under the orders of the lessees and the Government agents. 

 (See Exhibit D, Report Special Agents, House Committee on Ex- 

 penditures in the Department of Commerce, Aug. 31, 1913.) 



The following proof is submitted that the pups are born equal in 

 number as to sex, and that brings them as "yearlings " onto the 

 islands males and females alike entirely as to numbers, outward 

 shape, coats, size, and weights, as seen when driven and killed: 



Committee on Expenditures in the 



Department op Commerce and Labor, 



Friday, June 2, 1911. 



The committee this day met, Hon. John H. Rothermel (chairman) presiding. 



Mr. Elliott. Now, Mr. Chairman, how do we know that yearlings are females and 

 males equal in sex? How do we know, when we kill yearlings, that we are apt to kill 

 as many females as males without examining them? How do we prove it? I prove 

 it in this way first, and it has been affirmed even by this "advisory board." I said 

 in 1881, in my official monograph, that from my calculations, in round numbers, a 

 nu Hon pups are born every year on these islands. 



Mr. McGuire. When was this? 



Mr. Elliott. In 1874 that I prepared it, but it was published officially in 1881. 

 They have been carefully elaborated by the Government. That a million pups are 

 born every year on these islands, and of this million one-half are males. How did I 

 know that? In November, 1872, I stood over a killing of these pups, which were then 

 4£ to 5 months old, which was allowed by the Treasury Department for "native's 

 food " [and that has been allowed for some time by the Russians], and just before these 

 pups were departing for the winter, and the solitude of winter was to come over the 

 islands, there being no birds, or fish, or anything, the natives wanted some choice 

 food to hang up. some meat, and as the pups are the sweetest and most toothsome 

 seal meat, they naturally desired pup meat. So they killed in the autumn, under my 

 eyes, several squads, altogether some 10,000 pups; but I tallied 9,000 pups between 

 November 15 and November 25, 1872, at St. Pauls village, of which 4,800 were males. 

 The "advisory board," represented by Mr. F. A. Lucas, in 1897, addressee 1 me a note 

 saying: 



"Dear Mr. Elliott: Can you give me the exact number of pups you counted for 

 sex and the proportion of males and females? Looking over my own notes makes 

 me wish to quote you exactly. 



"F. A. Lucas." 



I sent him this memorandum: 



[Memorandum for Lucas] 



"Nine thousand pups driven November 15-25, 1872, 1,670 tallied by myself, 855 

 of which were males; the rest tallied by Church; average weight 39 pounds; some 

 as high as 50 pounds and some as low as 28 pounds." 



Then I received another note from Mr. Lucas, as foLows: 



"Dear Mr. Elliott: Your figures on pups came in finely and make it certain that 

 there is a small preponderance of males; our figures were, males, 388; females, 362 — 

 a total of 750, not far from yours. 



"F. A. Lucas." 



That was a pretty close tally; you see I was right, and that I knew what I was about. 



1 also penned this memorandum, which was made on that pup-weighing day: 



"St. Paul Island, Bering Sea, 



"November 20, 1872. 



"A pup, average weight of 4,800 fur-seal pups, as tallied November 20, 1872, deter- 

 mined on the killing grounds, average gross weight 39 pounds, thus: Clean skin, 



2 pounds 11 ounces; all the blubber, 14 pounds; tendons, flesh, and flippers. 14 

 pounds and 5 ounces; hones and intestines, 7 pounds and 8 ounces — a total of 38 

 pounds and 8 ounces — •" 



Or a weight of practically 39 pounds for a pup that was 4$ to 5 months old. (Hear- 

 ing No. 1, pp. 25, 26.) 



