234 INVESTIGATION OF THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 



In conclusion, and cumulative proof of this charge against Charles 

 Nagel as above made May 18, 1910, is the following letter of United 

 States Senator Dixon, chairman of the Committee on Conservation 

 of National Resources, United States Senate, who exposes the fact 

 that he has been deceived by Charles Nagel with regard to this very 

 subject of Dr. Hornaday's letter of above quotation, to wit: 



United States Senate, 

 Committee on Conservation of National Resources, 



May 23, 1910. 

 My Dear Dr. Hornaday: I had a personal talk with Secretary Nagel the other 

 day regarding the matter of killing some of the male seals, and after he had explained 

 to me the circumstances, I felt better contented. I think you can rest assured that 

 the killing will only be to make a show, with the understanding that this move is 

 done at the instance and request of the State Department, in order to cover certain 

 phases of the international treaty negotiations, which Secretary Nagel says are now 

 pending. I wish I could quote you some of his statements made, but he says that the 

 understanding between Knox and himself is thorough regarding the matter, and he 

 feels positive that he is pursuing the right source at this special time. 



I do not believe, from his statement, that any great number of seals will be killed, 

 and that as soon as the pending negotiations are settled the policy of killing will be 

 reversed . 



Yours, very truly, 



Jos. M. Dixon. 

 Dr. W. T. Horbaday, 

 2969 Decatur Avenue, 



Bedford Park, N. Y. 



This letter of Dixon to Hornaday shows that Nagel had deliberately 

 deceived Senator Dixon as to his intended purpose of violating the 

 close time in 1910, which he had promised the Senate Committee on 

 Conservation of National Resources March 22, 1910, he could order 

 for the season right ahead, and for which close time he received $50,000 

 from the committee to support the natives during the year in that 

 idleness winch would follow. 



Dr. Hornaday. The same date; that is to say, in the hearing of March 22, 1910 

 [reading] : 



"Present: Senators Dixon ('Chairman). Dick, Jones. Briggs, Dillingham, Guggen- 

 heim, TJeyburn, Dolliver, Clark of Wyoming, Bankhead, Overman, and Smith of 

 South Carolina. 



"Hon. Charles Nagel, Secretary of the Department of Commerce and Labor; Solici- 

 tor Charles Earl; George M. Bowers, Commissioner of the Bureau of Fisheries; Dr. 

 B. W. Everham, of the Bureau of Fisheries; Walter I. Lembkey, agent of the seal 

 fisheries; and Dr. W. T. Hornaday appeared." 



The first appropriation asked for by Mr. Nagel, with which to carry out the terms 

 of the bill which he had drafted, was $100,000. That sum was to be used chiefly in 

 buying the properties and paraphernalia of the outgoing North American Commercial 

 Co., in order that with that paraphernalia the business of killing seals could be 

 continued. 



In behalf of the Camp Fire Club I called attention to the fact that it was desirous 

 that the killing should cease for a time, and there should be a closed season, which 

 we demanded should be 10 years. That matter was discussed, and it was tacitly 

 agreed upon by members of that committee that there should be a closed season, and 

 that is what prompted Senator Dixon to use the expression that he did. Then, said 

 Mr. Lembkey. "Gentlemen, if there is to be a closed season, we must have more 

 money; we must have money with which to support those natives during their idle 

 period." I will read to you the words that I wrote down at the time: 



"Well, gentlemen, if seal killing has to stop, we will have to have a larger appro- 

 priation in order to support those 300 natives, whose wages will stop." 



Mr. Townsbnd. You are quoting Mr. Lembkey now? 



Dr. HorNaday. Yes. sir. On being asTted how much more he thought would be 

 necessary he said. "We will need about $50,000 more," and that amount was agreed 

 to then and there, for the purpose of supporting those idle natives whose wages would 

 stop. 



