240 INVESTIGATION OP THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 



not fully explained to him by his agent, the Lampsons, and those 

 buyers, whom he speaks of, to wit: 



[Appendix A, pp. 1009-1010.] 



London, December 16, 1910. 

 Hon. Charles Nagel, 



Secretary of Commerce qnd Labor, 



Washington, D. C, U. S. A. 



My Dear Mr. Secretary: Herewith inclosed you will find catalogues showing the 

 prices received at the auction this day for the fur seals of Alaska and elsewhere, and 

 when we take into consideration the number of skins offered for sale and the climatic 

 as well as financial conditions, I think we have had. as far as our skins are concerned, 

 an exceptionally good sale. 



Lot No. 1 sold at a decline of 20 shillings as compared with last year — this gave me 

 the blues. The second lot, 400 large pups, sold at a decline of 9 shillings; this of 

 course was better, but when 6.200 small pups and extra small pups sold at a loss of 

 1 shilling as compared with last year, this very much improved the situation. Un- 

 fortunately our skins did not grade so well as heretofore. You will observe that the 

 664 skins of the North American Commercial Co. did not bring prices nearly so good 

 as those gotten by the Government. You will further observe that the skins of the 

 northwest coast sold at an average of at least 7\ per cent less as compared with the 

 prices received by us, notwithstanding the fact that the skins of the northwest coast 

 this year graded a little better than usual. 



Under the terms of the sale a remittance by C. M. Lampson & Co. will be made on 

 December 30. I shall leave London on the 19th, and my address for the next three 

 weeks will be Hotel Kaiserhof, Bad Nauheim, Germany, 



With assurances of personal esteem and regard, believe me, 

 Sincerely, 



Geo. M. Bowers. 



London, December 19, 1910. 

 Hon. Charles Nagel, 



Secretary Commerce and Labor, Washington, D. C, U. S. A. 



Dear Mr. Secretary: Herewith inclosed you will find several statements for 

 record in the department, one showing the number of skins sold, the prices realized 

 for each lot, and the average weight of the skins; then another statement showing by 

 whom purchased. I also inclose a report showing the prices received for all other 

 skins sold, with last year's prices, for the purpose of comparison; also a statement 

 issued by C M. Lampsnu & Co., as well as two other statements, one by Phillips, 

 Pollitzer & Co., and the other by Blatspiel, Staup & Haycock, the principal London 

 buyers of the Alaskans. These reports will show the situation so far as London and 

 the Continent are concerned. It pleases me to state that the gross proceeds from the 

 sale for the 12,920 skins is £S9,624 16s., an advance of £200 more than the amount given 

 in my cablegram. The amounts received, as shown in this report, differ some little 

 from the statement I sent you some days ago, but on the whole our Government gains 

 an additional £200. 



Your cablegram of congratulations was greatly appi-eciated, and I feel much relieved 

 after a hard year's arduous labor. I leave for Berlin to-night, and will proceed from 

 there to Bad Xeuheim immediately after Christmas and make a strenuous endeavor to 

 recuperate, or, in other words, to recover my health. 



"With the compliments of the season, believe me, 



Sincerely, Geo. M. Bowers. 



P. S. — In a personal letter to Mr. Cable I stated I would send him a list of pur- 

 chasers. This is found in a catalogue which I have marked "Document 4." My 

 address will be Hotel Kaiserhof, Bad Xeuheim. 



That Mr. Commissioner Bowers knew better, that he had full 

 knowledge of the fact that those skins had been classified by measure- 

 ment in London, is given below by the sworn admission of his own 

 agent, W. I. Lembkey. 



Mr. Young. Let me before you pass from that ask this: You weigh these green 

 skins on the islands, and then measure them in the markets in London. What is 

 your purpose in weighing, and what is their purpose in measuring? 



