INVESTIGATION OF THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 265 



in the fall, and would reduce the size of the average harem to 30, a perfectly normal 

 ratio of the sexes. 



It might be claimed that the size of the herd of idle bulls is very small, and that 

 therefore not enough male seals escape the killing grounds to maintain an ideally 

 healthy relation between breeding males and females. It is true that the number of 

 idle bulls is small, but proportionately it is as large as any true friend of the seals 

 would desire. With a total of only 1,685 adult bulls present, the idle, 329, represent 

 19 per cent, or nearly one-fifth, of the whole number present. This number has not 

 been estimated, but has actually been counted one by one, so that the presence of 

 these bulls is not in the least a matter of conjecture, but is an assured fact. With 

 1 bull idle out of every 5 present, not even the most radical critic could fail of conviction 

 that an ample surplus of male life exists, and for this reason the killing of male seals 

 on land has not been of such a nature as to endanger in any way the safety of the herd or 

 its future increase. — (Hearing No. 9, p. 368, Feb. 29, 1912, H. Com. Dept. Com. & 

 Labor.) 



Note. — There is no breeding after August 1, annually, and no one knows it better 

 than Lembkey.— H. W. E. 



GUILTY KNOWLEDGE OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



That the Bureau of Fisheries had. complete knowledge of the fact 

 that these "loaded" weights which are certified into the skin records 

 of killing and taking by the lessees did not govern the size or value of 

 them when sold is admitted, under oath, as follows : 



Mr. Madden. The point is, does the weight of the skin have anything to do with the 

 value of the skin? 



Mr. Lembkey. The weight of the skin, in my opinion, has nothing to do with the 

 value of the skin. 



Mr. Madden. Is it sold by the pound, or how? 



Mr. Lembkey. Not by the pound, by the size — the amount of fur on it. If we should 

 leave 5 pounds of blubber on the skin there would only be so much fur on it for the 

 garment maker to make the garment of. 



Mr. McGlllicuddy. If you took a young skin and for the purpose of making it appear 

 by weight older, you could deceive? 



Mr. Lembkey. We certainly could deceive. We could fill it with any sort of substance. 



Mr. McGillicuddy. You say measurement would not be reliable because it might 

 be stretched. Suppose you did not stretch it, suppose you take it honestly, then 

 would it be, if honestly taken, would it be a test? 



Mr. Lembkey. I tried to make that clear to the committee. 



The Chairman. That is a direct question. Why do you not answer it? 



Mr. Lembkey. I am attempting to. It is impossible; of course all our actions up 

 there are honestly 



Mr. Madden (interposing). Answer the question right straight. Do not try to 

 explain it. 



Mr. Lembkey. I have attempted to state that in measuring a green skin it is impos- 

 sible to find out its exact length when you lay it on the ground, because it may curl 

 up, or roll, or stretch, and it can only be measured after it has become hardened by salt. 



Mr. McGlllicuddy. Then it will not stretch? 



Mr. Lembkey. Certainly not. 



Mr. McGlllicuddy. That is the proper time to measure it, after it lias become rigid 

 and stiff? 



Mr. Lembkey. Certainly. 



Mr. McGillicuddy. You can not then stretch or shrink itf 



Mr. Lembkey. No, sir. 



Mr. McGillicuddy. With an honest measurement of that kind of skin would it not deter- 

 mine the age? 



Mr. Lembkey. I fancy, yes. 



Mr. McGlllicuddy. Is there any doubt about it? 



Mr. Lembkey. I do not think so. I say fancy, because I never attempted to judge 

 of age by the measurements. 



Mr. McGlllicuddy. In that way, if anybody wanted to, they could not deceive, 

 because you say they could not stretch it? 



Mr. Lembkey. You could not stretch it after it had been salted four or five days, 

 because the skin then is not very pliable. 



