INVESTIGATION OF THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 201 



Mr. Elliott. Then, Dr. Stejneger, I have no further questions to ask you, except 

 this: I would like to ask about the Fur Trade Review, issue of September, 1900. 

 On pages 456, 457, and 458 you are cited as the authority for the following [reading]: 



"stejneger's 'authority' foe excessive land killing. 



"Washington, May 25, 1901. 



"The best authorities here (Stejneger and the Treasury officials) agree that there is 

 no necessity for a limit to the killing of the lessees on the islands for two reasons: First, 

 because it is conceded that the welfare of the present herd requires the taking of aa 

 many killable males per annum as can be found; and, second, because * * * the 

 proposed agreement between the United States and Great Britain would leave this 

 Government the sole proprietor of the sealing industry in the eastern half of the 

 Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea." (Fur Trade Review, June, 1901, pp. 285-286.) 



Do you still think it is the best thing to do to kill everything that can be found 

 up there? 



Dr. Stejneger. It depends upon the way — the exact words — in which you put it. 



Mr. Elliott. Here is the sentiment; is this your idea? — 



"That there is no necessity to the limit of the killing of the lessees on the islands 

 * * * because it is conceded that the welfare of the present herd requires the 

 taking of as many killable males per annum as can be found." 



Dr. Stejneger. The point is "as can be found." If you, eliminate that, I can 

 well conceive that I had advised as stated. 



Mr. Elliott. I am willing. You can eliminate everything and anything you have 

 done. I do not object. But I want to know if you gave him that impression, that 

 he could go up and kill everything he could find and do no harm. 



Dr. Stejneger. Not everything and "do no harm." 



Mr. Elliott. I mean "killable seaK" 



Dr. Stejneger. Killable seals? 



Mr. Elliott. I mean killable seals — everything he coidd find. 



Dr. Stejneger. That must, be within the proper season for the killing. 



Mr. Elliott. 1910. 



Dr. Stejneger. You want to pin me down to 



Mr. Elliott. You are a scientist, and you can not be pinned down. 



The Chairman. He is referring to the statement. 



Dr. Stejneger. I have nothing to do with that. It is hearsay of a report of some- 

 thing; I have nothing to do with that. 



Mr. Elliott. I ask you if you hold those views? 



Dr. Stejneger. Let me state what I hold and what I don't hold, in my own words: 

 I hold that you can kill, in the months of June and July — that is the season practically 

 when the killing is done — in the season you can kill all the males without any detri- 

 ment to the herd. I will say all the usable skins, three years and less; that is my 

 opinion, my deliberate opinion. 



The Chairman. But I understood Prof. Elliott to ask you whether you advised Mr. 

 Bowers. 



Dr. Stejneger. I may have said that very thing. 



The Chairman. Kill all the killable seals? 



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. 



The Chairman. Do you think all the killable seals should be taken for the good of 

 the herd? 



Dr. Stejneger. All the killable seals that you can take there at that time. The 

 fact is that you can not take all of the killable seals. 



The Chairman. It seems to me — I am only trying to clear it up so that we will not 

 have a misunderstanding when it is over — you should state whether you think it is 

 best for the herd to take all of the killable seals. 



Dr. Stejneger. With that reservation, all the killable seals that you can kill within 

 the season. I do not mean that you can 



The Chairman. That you can find? 



Dr. Stejneger. The ones that you can catch. 



Mr. Elliott. That is perfectly clear; that is all I wanted. 



