INVESTIGATION OF THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 303 



THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES INVOKES THE SERVICES OF JOSEPH STANLEY- 

 BROWN TO RENEW THE SEAL LEASE, AND DEFEAT PENDING LEGIS- 

 LATION WHICH PREVENTS THAT RENEWAL. 



Mr. Elliott. And I want Mr. Bowers to pay some attention to this because this is 

 important, at least some good lawyers have told me that it is very important to him — 



"Being an official letter covering a 'memorandum' addressed to Mr. George M. 

 Bowers, commissioner, urging him to take steps to prevent the passage of the Dixon 

 fur-seal resolutions introduced in the United States Senate by. Senator Joseph 

 M. Dixon. (S. Res. 90, 91, 92.) 



''December 7, 1909. This letter from the 'bureau,' dated December 16, 1909, and 

 signed by Barton W. Evermann, urges Bowers to send agents to New York, there to 

 'educate' the Camp Fire Club and induce them to agree to the 'bureau's idea of 

 renewing the lease,' as follows:" 



Exhibit No. 6. 



Department of Commerce and Labor, 



Bureau op Fisheries, 

 Washington, December 16, 1909. 

 The Commissioner: 



The Washington Star of December 10 last announced that the Camp Fire Club, of 

 New York, had inaugurated a campaign to save the fur-seal herd through legislation 

 designed to pi event the re-leasing of the sealing right, the cessation of all killing on 

 the islands for 10 years except for natives' food, and to secure the opening of negotia- 

 tions with Great Britain to revise the regulations of the Paris tribunal. As the result 

 of this movement on December 7 three resolutions were introduced by Senator Dixon, 

 of Montana, one of which embodies the provisions before mentioned, the other two 

 calling for the publication of fur-seal correspondence and reports since 1904. 



As the object of this movement is at variance with the program of this bureau and 

 of the recommendations of the advisory fur-seal board, notably in the plan to prevent 

 killing and the renewal of the seal island lease, the advisability is suggested of having 

 Messrs. Townsend, Lucas, and Stanley-Brown use their influence with such members 

 of the Camp Fire Club as they may be acquainted with with the object of correctly 

 informing the club as to the exact present status of the seal question and of securing 

 its cooperation to effect the adoption of the measures advocated by this bureau. 1 



The attached letter is prepared, having in view the object stated. 



Barton W. Evermann. 



"Exhibit No. 7. Being the official letter of 'George M. Bowers, commissioner,' to 

 Secretary Commerce and Labor, dated February 8, 1910, inclosing copies of three 

 letters, all urging renewal of the seal lease and giving the reasons of the writers for 



1 "Committee on Expenditures in the 

 "Department op Commerce and Labor, 



"House op Representatives, 



"Friday, June 9, 1911. 



"The committee met at 10 o'clock a. m., Hon. John H. Rothermel (chairman) pre- 

 siding. 



"TESTIMONY OF MR. GEORGE M. BOWERS, COMMISSIONER OP FISHERIES. 



"Mr. Bowers. No new lease was made, but the killing was done under govern- 

 mental supervision. 



"Mr. Townsend. You will be questioned about that later. After the first sugges- 

 tion of this bill you know of no efforts that were made to delay the passage of that legis- 

 lation? 



"Mr. Bowers. I know of no effort that was made to delay the passage of that legis- 

 lation. 



"Mr. Townsend. And if any evidence should be introduced to the contrary, it 

 would surprise you? 



"Mr. Bowers. So far as I am concerned it would, yes; and as far as I am concerned 

 it would the Bureau of Fisheries and the department." (Investigation of Fur-Seal 

 Industry of Alaska, p. 73.) (Hearing No. 3, p. 157, July 6, 1911, H. Com. Exp. Dept. 

 C. andL.) 



