INVESTIGATION" OF THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 239 



Mr. Bowers. They sell on those weights. Their classification is made on those 

 weights. 



Mr. Elliott. Right there I want to interpose the statement that they do not weigh 

 those skins to classify them. They measure them. (Hearing No. 6, p. 291.) 



In this distinct and positive statement the United States Commis- 

 sioner of Fisheries tells the committee that the London classification 

 of its 12,920 fur-seal skins, which have been taken on the seal islands 

 during its season of 1910 and sold in London December 16, 1910 — that 

 this classification is done there by the weights of the skins. 



He does this in full personal knowledge of the fact that those Lon- 

 don agents have classified those skins bv measurement, so as to get at 

 their size; that the buyers care nothing for the weight of the salt cured 

 skins — they are buying the skins according to their size. 



That he made this statement to the committee for the purpose of 

 deceiving them, and that he knew better, for he had personally at- 

 tended the classification and selling of those skins in London Decem- 

 ber 16, 1910, is attested by his own official record, as follows: 



[Appendix A, p. 1009.] 



London, December 16, 1910. 

 Hon. Charles Nagel, 



Secretary of Commerce and Labor, Washington, D. C. 



My Dear Mr. Secretary: I have just wired you the total results of the fur-seal- 

 skin sale which has just taken place: 



"Conditions considered, have had a remarkably successful sale. Total amount, 

 89,424 pounds." 



When we take into consideration the average grading of the skins as compared 

 with last year, there is a loss of only about 3 per cent. 



I am inclosing you a copy of the advertisements for the year 1909 as well as for 

 1910. I think it is well to have these for office reference. I had hoped for a larger 

 amount, but, after conference with the fur dealers of London, was prepared to receive 

 10 per cent or even 15 per cent less than last year's prices, and I think, as I have 

 said above, that we had a very successful sale. 



I leave the latter part of the week for Germany and will go direct to Bad Nauheim. 

 I regret to say that my condition has not improved. 



Wishing you and yours a merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year, 

 I am, with renewed assurances of my highest personal esteem and regard, 

 Very truly, yours, 



Geo. M. Bowers. 



Here he tells the Secretary that he has been busy with the buyers 

 and that he had also been busy with the Lampsons, who did the clas- 

 sifying and selling of those small skins to the buyers aforesaid, as his 

 own agents. 



That a man of common sense and average ability should personally 

 attend this sale as the representative of the Secretary of Commerce 

 and Labor and then make that dogmatic statement of untruth in 

 good faith as to the classification of the skins, as above, is simply 

 unbelievable; he knew better; he never had a buyer tell him or his 

 own agent tell him that untruth which he tells to the committee 

 under oath. 



In further proof of the personal understanding which Mr. Commis- 

 sioner Bowers had of what ordered the conduct of the sale of those 

 skins, the additional letters are submitted. It is fairly incredible to 

 believe that a subject which affected the prices of his skins — the 

 "grading" of them as he calls it, or the classification of them — was 



