250 INVESTIGATION OF THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 



" In addition to the above the department had the advice of — 

 "Dr. F. W. True, Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, who spent the 

 season of 1895 on the seal islands as a special commissioner for the Government to study 

 the fur seal. Dr. True is one of the most distinguished mammalogists, and has given 

 special attention to marine mammals. 



"Mr. George A. Clark, secretary of Stanford University, who, as secretary of the Fur 

 Seal Commissions of 1896 and 1897, spent many months on the seal islands, when there 

 was made, under his immediate supervision, the most careful census of the fur-seal 

 herd that has ever been made. Mr. Clark was again on the seal islands during the 

 entire season of 1909, where he was sent by the Secretary of Commerce and Labor as 

 an expert to study the seal herd during the last year of the North American Co.'s 

 lease. 



Here is an imposing list of names who are thus cited by Mr. Com- 

 missioner Bowers as being his " advisers" and as the men who have 

 enabled him to make that false declaration of classification by weights 

 in London (by his "loaded" green-skin weights on the islands). 

 What did these men do when summoned and put under oath by the 

 committee and questioned as to this charge made against Commis- 

 sioner Bowers of killing yearling seals in violation of the rules of the 

 department — did they deny the charge? No. They all swore that 

 they did not know anything about it; that they did not know how 

 to describe the length or weight of a yearling sealskin. Witness the 

 following: 



I. Dr. Leonhard Stejneger, member of Advisory Board Fur-Seal Service, Depart- 

 ment of Commerce and Labor (pp. 679-680, Hearing No. 11, House Committee on 

 Expenditures in the Department of Commerce and Labor, May 4, 1912): 



The Chairman. Mr. Elliott, do you want to ask him any questions? 



Mr. Elliott. 1 have only a few questions to ask him. Dr. Stejneger, what is the 

 length of a yearling fur seal of the Alaskan herd? 



Dr. Stejneger. I could not tell you. 



Mr. Elliott. Have you ever measured one of the Alaskan herd? 



Dr. Stejneger. No. 



Mr. Elliott. You do not know anything about the length of a skin of a yearling 

 seal as taken from the body? 



Dr. Stejneger. Of a yearling seal? I do not know; I have never seen a yearling 

 seal killed on the American island?. 



******* 



Mr. Elliott. "Were you in consultation with Mr. Bowers when he ordered the killing 

 of 12.920 seals on the seal islands in 1910? 



Dr. Stejneger. Do you mean in personal special consultation with Mr. Bowers? 



Mr. Elliott. Well, as a member of the board do you remember any consultation 

 with him about issuing those orders? 



Dr. Stejneger. No; I do not remember. 



II. Dr. C. Hartt Merriam, member of Advisory Board Fur-Seal Service, Depart- 

 ment of Commerce and Labor (p. 692, Hearing No. 11): 



The Chairman. Y\ ell, how long have you been on the advisory board? 



Dr. Merriam. Since the beginning. 1 do not. remember the date; but I have been 

 absent from the city during a number of ihe sittings of that committee, as I am 

 engaged in field work in the West at least half of every year, and therefore have not 

 been in Washington at the time most of these meetings were held. 



The Chairman. Were you at the meeting of the advisory board that the previous 

 witness referred to in his testimony? 



Dr. Merrtam. I do not remember any such meeting. 



The Chairman. Are you a member of the board now? 



Dr. Merriam. Yes. 



On page 99. Hearing No. 11: 



Mr. Elliott. Doctor, while you were on the island did you ascertain the length 

 and weight of a yearling seal? 



Dr. Merriam. I did not. 



Mr. Elliott. Do you know anything about the length and the weight of a yearling 

 sealskin? 



Dr. Merriam. Nothing. 



