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



Mr. Elliott. That is, all he can find. 



Dr. Stejneger. With the limitation if in season. I undoubtedly advised such a 

 thing, and should advise it now. 



He actually goes to the following extreme limit of license to destroy, 

 to wit : 



Investigation op Fur-Seal Industry of Alaska. 



Committee on Expenditures in the 



Department of Commerce and Labor, 



House of Representatives, 



Saturday, May 4, 1912. 



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

 siding. 



Present: Messrs. Young, McGillicuddy, and McGuire. 



STATEMENT OF LEONHARD STEJNEGER. 



Leonhard Stejneger, having been duly sworn, was examined, and testified as 

 follows: l 



The Chairman. Do you know whether, of your own personal knowledge, seals have 

 been killed that were too small or too young, under the act of Congress? 



Dr. Stejneger. I do not know, because I have not been on the island since 1897 — 

 since 1896. 



If I may be allowed to make a statement, since you ask whether I had any statement 

 to make, the law is the law, and has to be lived up to; but whether seal is killed as 

 1-year old or when older could not affect the seal herd to any extent and could not 

 hurt it at all; you might just as well kill 1-year olds or 2-year olds or 3-year olds. As 

 a matter of fact, you could not kill as large a percentage of 1-year olds as of 2 or 3 year 

 olds. The 1-year olds would be 2-year olds the next year, and then you would kill 

 them anyhow. The Government would realize a little less money for the smaller 

 skins. That would be the whole result. 



The Chairman. Dr. Evermann, do you or anyone else wish to ask the doctor any 

 questions? 



Dr. Evermann. I have no questions. 



The Chairman. Mr. Elliott, do you want to ask him any questions? 



Mr. Elliott. I have only a few questions to ask him. Dr. Stejneger, what is the 

 length of a yearling fur seal of the Alaskan herd? 



Dr. Stejneger. I could not tell you. 



Mr. Elliott. Have you ever measured one of the Alaskan herd? 



Dr. Stejneger. No. 



Mr. Elliott. You do not know anything about the length of a skin of a yearling 

 seal as taken from the body? 



Dr. Stejneger. Of a yearling seal? I do not know; I have never seen a yearling 

 seal killed on the American islands. 



Mr. Elliott. Were vou in consultation with Mr. Bowers when he ordered the 

 killing of 12,920 seals on the seal islands in 1910? _ 



Dr. Stejneger. Do you mean in personal special consultation with Mr. Bowers? 



Mr. Elliott. Did Mr. Bowers 



Dr. Stejneger. Not outside of what I have said in the board. 



Mr. Elliott. No, no. I asked you, did Mr. Bowers advise with you? 



Dr. Stejneger. Personally? 



Mr. Elliott. Not when he issued his order to kill 12,920 seals in 1910? 



Dr. Stfjneger. I do not quite understand whether it was with me personally or 

 as a member of the board. 



Mr. Elliott. Well, as a member of the board, do you remember any consultation 

 with him about issuing those orders? 



Dr. Stejneger. No: I do not remember. 



> He makes a flat statement that if the law did not prevent, he would kill yearlings. This "scientist" 

 has been loudly finding fault with the pelagic sealers because they kill female seals, yet he, too, would kill 

 female seals, for half of the yearlings are females. This is "science" with a vengeance, and just the kind 

 that Nagel, Bowers, Lembkev, and Jordan appreciate as the tools of the lessees— Mills, Elkins, and Lieber. 



H.W.E. 



