318 INVESTIGATION OF THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 



committee last year I have had some occasion to consider this question with the 

 result that the impressions then expressed have, if anything, been strengthened. 



Under existing conditions I can not believe that the seal herds would be in any 

 sense conserved by suspending the killing of male seals in the manner in which it is 

 now being done. So long as pelagic sealing is continued there does not appear to me 

 to be even room for discussion. I believe it can be demonstrated that the number 

 of female seals killed by the pelagic sealers substantially equals the number of male 

 seals killed by the Government. If that be true, one and perhaps the chief argument 

 which has been advanced would seem to be without foundation. 



However, if pelagic sealing were discontinued and all the female seals were abso- 

 lutely protected, I still believe that it would be perfectly safe, and in a measure 

 necessary, in so far as the conservation of the herd is concerned, to kill a certain per- 

 centage of male seals. Of course my personal judgment is without value. I am 

 relying upon the advice of experts who have been appointed to inquire and report 

 and who have given the department the benefit of their opinion. 



I gather that a further ground has been assigned for the discontinuance of seal killing, 

 namely, that such discontinuance would be received by foreign countries as proof of 

 our disinterestedness and that such a course would serve to promote the consumma- 

 tion of treaties to prohibit pelagic sealing. If this were so, I should, of course, advo- 

 cate the discontinuance, but I have no intimation from the State Department that 

 such a course on our part would have the slightest bearing upon pending negotiations. 

 I can not undertake to speak upon this phase of the question, but no doubt that 

 information can be readily obtained from the State Department. 



I am glad to say that the results of the first year's experience under the law enacted 

 last year are now at hand. Compared with the amounts received under the contract 

 system the showing is, I think, a very satisfactory one. At the same time I would not 

 be understood as saying that a gain in the receipt of a few hundred thousand dollars 

 ought to be conclusive in determining the Government's policy. On the contrary, 

 I am of the opinion that the primary consideration to have in mind is one of con- 

 servation, namely, the preservation of the herds. If I could believe that the policy 

 which the Government now pursues in any sense endangers the herds, I should advo- 

 cate a change. My recommendation with respect to the bill now pending is based 

 upon the opinion that the Government is now killing only such male seals as may be 

 regarded as surplus, and that the preservation of the herds is not in any degree affected 

 by this policy. 



If it is proposed to have a hearing upon this bill, I respectful y ask that as much 

 notice as possible be given, so that I may make sure to have present those representa- 

 tives of the bureau and such members of the boards and commissions as are more 

 especially conversant with the question. 

 Very sincerely, yours, 



(Signed) Charles Nagel. 



Hon. Joseph M. Dixon, 



United States Senate. 



In this letter above cited, Secretary Nagel says that he himself 

 possesses no knowledge as to the work being done on the islands, but 

 that he issued his orders and relied upon the judgment of experts duly 

 qualified and appointed, who gave him their advice. On June 9, 

 1911, Fish Commissioner Bowers, representing the Secretary of 

 Commerce and Labor, appeared before the House Committee on 

 Expenditures in the Department of Commerce and Labor, and pre- 

 sented to the Committee the names of those experts upon whom the 

 department relied as its authority for killing small seals in violation of 

 law and regulations. 



Mr. Bowers testified as follows (June 9, 1911, Hearing No. 2, p. 109) : 



Mr. Bowers. Yes, sir. I ought to have another statement here that I would like 

 to have offered, but I am not able to find it at present. If the gentleman will permit, 

 1 wish to say that these regulations are in conformity to recommendations made by this 

 advisory board. 



Mr. Cable. Give the names of the members of the advisory board. 



Mr. Bowers. The members of the Fur-Seal Board and of the Advisory Board, 

 Fur-Seal Service, are as follows: 



"In the Bureau of Fisheries, general matters regarding the fur seals are considered 

 by a fur-seal board, consisting of the following: 



"Dr. Barton Warren Evermann (chairman), who is chief of the Alaska Fisheries 

 Service and who has been in Alaska a number of times. He was a member of the Fur 



