INVESTIGATION OP THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 209 



subject in his labored, elaborated final report of 1898. (Fur Seal 

 Investigations, pts. 1, 2, 3, 4, 1898.) 



But when this final report was prepared, Dr. Lucas was obliged to 

 "present at least the suggestion of a table which should show the size 

 of the fur seal as it grows from birth to full maturity. (See p. 7, 

 pt. 3. Fur Seal Investigations, 1898.) 



Instead of taking up a dozen or twenty examples of a yearling, he 

 takes but one; he measures it, and it conforms exactly to the average 

 which Elliott has published nearly 26 years earlier, it so happens. 



But when he takes a single 2 year old, he makes it to be only 

 42 inches long, instead of that average of 45 inches which Elliott 

 gets from the measurements of 30 specimens. (See Elliott's Mono. 

 Seal Islands, p. 46, 1873-74.) 



On the other hand, Dr. Lucas's associate on this Jordan commis- 

 sion at the same time (1896), George A. Clark, measures also a single 

 2 -year-old, and publishes its length as 48 inches. (See p. 510, pt. 2, 

 1898, Fur Seal Investigations.) 



That difference naturally exists between a "short" or small 2- 

 year-old and a "long" or large specimen of the same age. Lucas 

 measures one and Clark the other. But Elliott, in 1872-73, taking 

 note of those extremes, gathered up 30 specimens and took the 

 average length, and publishes it as 45 inches. 



Elliott found that large yearlings were 41 inches long and small 

 ones only 29 to 30. He took an average of 20 or 30 specimens and 

 placed the correct figure of 38 inches for a yearling's length in his 

 table of 1873. 



In the same mistaken manner Lucas took the measurements of 

 but a single 3-year-old seal's body. He made it 49 inches long. 

 It was a "short" or small specimen. But Clark, on the other hand, 

 gets a "long" or large 3-year-old, and he makes it 54 inches long. 

 Elliott, however, took an average of 20 or 30 specimens, and he finds 

 the real average size to be 52 inches in length, which makes a stable 

 conclusion for a 3-year-old. 



Lucas and Clark fail in their work of getting result; of sense or 

 value by not going out into the field and getting the measurements 

 of 30 or 40 specimens of these 1, 2, 3, and 4 year-old seals' bodies. 

 Elliott made no such blunder which both Lucas and Clark admit 

 they have done in the following statements : 



I agree with Mr. Lucas on looking at these bachelors that it is necessary to readjust 

 our ideas * * * what we have called "4-year-olds" are probably "5-year- 

 olds."— G. A. Clark, p. 436, pt. 2. 



I see that my tendency has been to underestimate the age of the smaller seals * * * 

 (F. A. Lucas, p. 441, pt. 2.) 



THE INITIAL FRAUD ON THE SEAL ISLANDS, AS PERPETRATED BY THE 



LESSEES AND OTHERS IN 1890-91. 



There is an official record of the killing of seals on St. Pauls 

 Island by which the lessees were enabled illegally to take 3,856 skins 

 in violation of the orders of the President of the United States — so 

 enabled by the subornation of the Government agents in charge of 

 the Seal Islands. The limit of 6,000 skins was posted on St. Pauls 

 Island June 10, 1891, and 1,500 skins on St. George was posted June 

 13, 1891. (Kept. Agts. H. Com. Exp. Dept. Commerce, pp. 128-132, 

 Aug. 31, 1913.) 



53490—14 14 



