S02 INVESTIGATION" OF THE FUE-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 



What had Williams done? Why was he quietly put over, and 

 "transferred" to London, as Goff before him had been transferred to 

 Montreal ? 



He was "transferred " because he spoke plainly, after his unpleasant 

 experience on the islands during the summer of 1891, as a tool of the 

 lessees. He told his friends at home and in Washington that this 

 work on the islands must stop and the lessees put out; he saw the 

 greedy hand that prevented any settlement with Great Britain, and 

 Was ashamed of his part in the business of illegally killing those seals, 

 under the whip of the lessees, and, among other plain truths, he said: 



In my opinion the only way to save the Pribilof herd is by an entire cessation of 

 Bealing for a considerably period. I have heard diverse views on this subject, and 

 about closed seasons of 1 to 10 years as being the only way to restore the herd to its 

 best form. I believe in 10 years. 



Whatever period is adopted it should involve the entire cessation of seal killing on 

 the islands. Of course, I am speaking unofficially, as I have no part in the present 

 deliberation of the commission. — (Fur Trade Review, Oct. 1, 3898, p. 446, New York.) 



And this is the same "scientist" and "keen business man" who was 

 introduced to the House Committee on Expenditures in the Depart- 

 ment of Commerce and Labor, April 20, 1912, in the following 

 "modest" terms by the United States Bureau of Fisheries, to wit: 



Dr. Evermann. One of the interesting phases of this question that has attracted 

 my attention is the attitude which some persons have assumed toward the large 

 numbers of able and distinguished naturalists who have visited the seal islands and 

 who are without question the men most familiar with the fur-seal herd and the many 

 problems connected with its management and effective conservation. 



Within the last 25 years nearly a score of the most distinguished naturalists not only 

 of this country, but of Great Britain, Canada, and Japan have visited our seal islands 

 for the specific purpose of studying the habits of the fur seals and the problems con- 

 nected with the proper management of the herd. Among these gentlemen I may 

 mention the following: 



Dr. Evermann (reading) : 



"Dr. Barton Warren Evermann. in charge of the Alaska fisheries service, who, as 

 •special fur-seal commissioner in 1892, spent six months on our seal islands in the 

 North Pacific and on the Russian seal islands, studying the fur-seal rookeries, hauling 

 grounds, and migrations. 



"Mr. Joseph Stanley-Brown, of New York, spent the seasons of 1891, 1892, 1894, 

 1895, 1896, 1897. and L899 on the seal islands, where, as naturalist and keen business 

 man, he made very thorough study and investigations not only of the habits of the 

 seals, but very valuable studv of the economic questions involved." (Hearing No. 

 10, pp. 518-519; H. Com. Exp. Dept. C. & L.) 



The "value" of Joseph Stanley-Brown's "studies" to the lessees 

 can be at once grasped by the most casual observer, but the value 

 thereof, to the public interests which he was sworn to. guard, and paid 

 to do so, no man living or dead can find the least evidence of. 



That the greedy lessees found him " valuable, " however, goes with- 

 out question, for we find this entry made on page 222 of the St. Paul 



Journal, to wit : 



Wednesday, June 6, 1894. 



- earner Lakme, of the North American Commercial Co., arrived having on board, 

 J. B. Crowley and wife, as chief agent, and Mr. Judge and wife; also Mr. Brown, super- 

 intendent of North American Commercial Co.. Mr. Chicester and Mr. Aimstrong. 



