INVESTIGATION OF THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 285 



The Chairman. It was decided, then, that she was not in Russian waters? 



Mr. Peirce. The arbitrator accepted absolutely my argument. 



The Chairman. In order to sustain your argument, it was necessary to prove that 

 the master was an American citizen and that the vessel was owned by American 

 citizens? 



Mr. Peirce. Yes. 



The Chairman. Who was the master? 



Mr. Peirce. One Alexander McLean. 



The Chairman. Can you tell from memory whether the Russians found some seal- 

 skins when she was captured? 



Mr. Peirce. My recollection is they did, and that damages were awarded for the 

 seizure of those sealskins. 



The Chairman. As well as for the property? 



Mr. Peirce. As well as for the property and the loss of the probable catch. 



The Chairman. If I am not mistaken, I think they had 424 skins. 



Mr. Peirce. That is my recollection. I am somewhat vague. 



The Chairman. You also proved to the satisfaction of the tribunal that the vessel 

 was owned by American citizens? 



Mr. Peirce. I filed such documents as I could obtain, which appeared to establish 

 the owners! ip of tl e vessel. 



The Chairman. Who were the owners? 



Mr. Peirce. H. Liebes & Co., I believe. 



The Chairman. Who were they? 



Mr. Peirce. I can only answer from hearsay. 



The Chairman. Just in a general way. 



Mr. Peirce. I think they were dealers in sealskins or promoters of pelagic sealing, 

 or something of that sort; I do not know. 



The Chairman. You finally settled. You may tell the committee what your com« 

 pensation was, if you will? 



Mr. Peirce. Certainly. My compensation in the case of the C. H. White, and I 

 think also the Kate and Anna — I am not sure of that— no; my compensation in the 

 case of the C. H. White, for which I recovered an award of $52,000, was $5,000, less 

 my counsel fees, which amounted to $1,000. I received $4,000. 



The Chairman. Did anybody else receive any compensation? 



Mr. Peirce. I do not know. I presume James Embry got a large compensation, 

 but I do not know. 



The Chairman. Who went with you to The Hague tribunal? 



Mr. Peirce. Mr. Townsend. I forget his initials. 



The Chairman. Charles Townsend. 



Mr. Peirce. He had been employed, I think, by the Treasury Department when 

 the care of the seal herd was under the Treasury Department. 



The Chairman. He was sent with you as an expert? 



Mr. Peirce. As an expert. 



The Chairman. To assist you in presenting the case? 



Mr. Peirce. Yes, sir; as a witness. 



The Chairman. Did he receive any compensation? 



Mr. Peirce. That I do not know. He received, if my recollection serves me 

 aright, his traveling expenses, which I think I paid to him, to be refunded out of 

 the award. 



The Chairman. Did you pay him any money out of your fee? 



Mr. Peirce. No, sir. (Townsend, Bureau of Fisheries "Expeit," aids Peirce, 

 p. 784.) 



ISAAC LIEBES FALSIFIES IN RE OWNERSHIP, AND INTEREST IN THE 

 BUSINESS OF PELAGIC SEALING AND ITS PRACTICAL PROMOTION, 



AS A LESSEE OF THE SEAL ISLANDS. 1890-1903. 



Mr. Faulkner. Mr. Liebes, will you state to the committee whether you were 

 interested in the J. Hamilton Lewis? 



Mr. Liebes. No; not to my knowledge. (P. 833, Hearing No. 13, June 18, 1912.) 



The Chairman. You were the owner at one time of the J. Hamilton Lewis? 



Mr Liebes. Ivjas not. 



The Chairman. Was it not transferred to you by Herman Liebes? 



Mr. Liebes. Never, that I know. 



