INVESTIGATION OF THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 437 



The Chairman. But it would make a difference in the weights, 

 would it not ? 



Mr. Clark. It would make a difference in proportion. If you put 

 additional blubber on a big skin, it would be just that much heavier, 

 and if you put blubber on a little skin it would be that much heavier. 



The Chairman. Did you know that Carlisle had issued regulations 

 that were in force on the islands in 1896 prohibiting the killing of 

 yearling seals ? 



Mr. Clark. No; I was not aware in 1896-97 of that fact. 



The Chairman. Do you know now about those regulations on the 

 islands ? 



Mr. Clark. I know it from the last hearing only. 



The Chairman. And that also provided that no seal weighing less 

 than six pounds should be killed. 



Mr. Clark. That was for the year 1896 alone. That is specifically 

 stated to be for the year 1896 alone, as will be seen bv the document 

 itself. 



The Chairman. Then you know that was limited to 1896 ? 



Mr. Clark. Yes; I know it was also enforced. Although we knew 

 nothing of the Carlisle rules, we were definitely informed that no 

 killing under 6 pounds was allowed, and as we knew that the average 

 skin of a yearling was 4^ pounds, we knew that protected not only 

 the yearlings, but a large part of the 2-year-olds. 



The Chairman. Is it not your judgment, Mr. Clark, that a 6-pound 

 limit would be a better protection than a 5-pound limit ? 



Mr. Clark. No, it is not. It would offer no protection to anything 

 except the 2-year-old animals. Of course if you want to except the 

 2-year-old animals from killing 6 pounds would be your limit. 



The Chairman. Then it was later reduced to 5^ pounds ? 



Mr. Clark. It was reduced to 5h pounds in 1904. 



The Chairman. That was after the Hitchcock rules were in force ? 



Mr. Clark. That was the Hitchcock ruie. 



The Chairman. Did that prohibit the killing of any seals weighing 

 less than 5 pounds or 6 pounds or 5| pounds ? 



Mr. Clark. Five and one-half pounds. It prohibited the killing of 

 any animal that had a skin of less than 5-J pounds. 



The Chairman. Is it not your judgment that that standard should 

 prevail as a matter of safety ? 



Mr. Clark. Not necessarily at all. 



The Chairman. Would it not be an easier matter to put a little 

 more blubber to a skin and make it weigh h\ pounds, if it was the sldn 

 of a yearling ? 



Mr. Clark. Of course, as a physical fact it would be easier to do 

 that. 



The Chairman. Is it not your opinion as an expert that that is so ? 



Mr. Clark. Well, I will admit that, but I want to finish my ex- 

 planation about the yearlings first. 



The Chairman. I know you are explaining that and I am asking 

 you these questions as you go along. 



Mr. Clark. Yes. 



The Chairman. Now, when was the weight reduced or by whom 

 was it reduced to 5 pounds ? 



Mr. Clark. It was reduced by the regulations issued by the depart- 

 ment in 1906. 



