INVESTIGATION OE THE EUE-SEAL INDUSTRY OE ALASKA. 447 



Mr. Clark. Yes; the distinction between small and large ani- 

 mals . 



The Chairman (interposing). You say you made these daily re- 

 ports, and you must have made them from observations. 



Mr. Clark. Well, when there are no small animals left, that is a 

 different thing from saying that there are no yearlings left. 



The Chairman. On page 892, under date of July 28, the following 

 appears : 



In making the drive from the reef and Gorbatch this morning the drivers must have 

 pressed the breeding grounds closely as a considerable number of cows, 14 at least, 

 were included. These were for the most part recognized and exempted by the club- 

 bers, but two adult cows in milk were killed by accident. Most of the cows were 

 young animals — 2-year-olds. 



Mr. Clark. Yes. 



The Chairman. On page 892 under date of July 30, in the same 

 report, the following appears : 



The drive from Zapadni this morning gives 5S5 skins. It is the largest drive from 

 this rookery for this season. Those killed constitute 79 per cent of all the animals 

 driven. Only 39, too small, are turned back. The closeness of the driving is evident 

 from the fact that 10 cows are recognized; two are accidentally killed. One bachelor 

 with a St. George identification mark (three clipped spots on the shoulders as well aa 

 the head shaved) is seen. 



That is also correct ? 



Mr. Clark. Yes, sir. 



The Chairman. Now, why did you say that these cows were acci- 

 dentally killed ? 



Mr. Clark. Because every effort possible was being made to avoid 

 the killing of any cow that might be in the drive, and I might say that 

 the natives felt about as they would over the lulling of one of their 

 own people if a cow was killed. They were very much affected and 

 felt very bad about it. I considered their killing was accidental. 



The Chairman. Did } r ou not also state that the lessees were 

 without restraint so far as this driving was concerned ? 



Mr. Clark. I do not think I did. 



The Chairman. You may look into that and let the committee 

 know. 



Mr. Clark. Yes, sir. 



The Chairman. On page 868, Appendix "A," your report, you 

 make this statement: 



It is wasteful to take skins of \\ and 5 pounds which if left a season will gain 1 to 2 

 pounds in weight and will be more serviceable. 



That is also correct, is it not ? 



Mr. Clark. Well, may I explain in regard to that, briefly ? 



The C hairman. Certainly. 



Mr. Clark. The skin, of course, is larger at the age of 3 and will 

 bring a bigger price. So far as the Government was concerned it 

 made absolutely no difference because the Government got its tax 

 of $10 on every skin whether it was from a yearling or a 2-year-old 

 or a 4-year-old, and that is all it could get. 



The Chairman. Would you apply that to 1909? 



Mr. Clark. Well, that is a different matter, that was 1909, the 

 last year of the North American Commercial Co.'s lease and each 

 skin brought $10, the regular royalty tax fixed by the lease. 



