INVESTIGATION OF THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 499 



The birth rate of 1911 must have been practically the same as 1912 

 or 80,000 to 82,000; but he only admits that 6,000 of them survived 

 to the age of 2 years, and allowing the same number of females that 

 would be 12,000 out of 80,000, which is out of the question. There 

 were certainly 15,000 of the 2-year-old females and 15,000 of the 

 2-year-old males in 1913. Now, in the case of the 3-year-olds he 

 offers only 3,000. That is getting clear down and out, because the 

 birth rate of 1910 must have been very nearly what it was in 1911, 

 and therefore the reduction is too great. We know also that only 

 2,000 2-year-old animals were killed in 1912. Therefore these 

 animals must be somewhere, and I have estimated that there were 

 10,000 of them in 1913. 



Mr. McGuire. And he gives 3,000 ? 



Mr. Clark. Yes. Mr. Elliott says there are 400 4-year-olds. Mr. 

 Marsh and myself saw the heads of 2,000 3-year-olds clipped last 

 year. They were not killed last year and were not killed this year. 

 They must have been there somewhere. 



Mr. McGuike. What is your judgment about that? 



Mr. Clark. I say there were at least 2,000 4-year-olds. 



Mr. McGuire. From your observations could you form any esti- 

 mate of the number there? 



Mr. Clark. Those animals come and go so it is very difficult to do 

 that, but I know we clipped 2,000 of them and there is practically no 

 loss in the third migration. 



Mr. McGutre. Is there anything else in respect of the counting you 

 want to speak of ? 



Mr. Clark. I want to call attention to the fact that I was desirous 

 of settling these points with Mr. Elliott on the island. 



Mr. McGutre. What were your instructions ? Did you have any 

 written instructions from the department ? 



Mr. Clark. I had written instructions, but I got supplementary 

 instructions by wireless when it was known that Mr. Elliott was to 

 be up there. 



Mr. McGutre. What were those instructions ? Have you them with 

 you, or are they to be had in the department ? 



Mr. Clark. I have a copy of my instructions. I would say 



Mr. McGutre (interposing) : Will you read them into the record ? 



Mr. Clark. I would like to read this letter, if I may. 



Mr. McGutre. Yes; you can read that. 



Mr. Clark. The point is I asked Mr. Elliott to cooperate with me; 

 personally invited him to go with me and help me count these rook- 

 eries and do my work with me in order that we might reach a basis 

 of agreement. lie had time to do it, because I arrived two days late; 

 and the first two days I devoted to the work Mr. Elliott stayed in 

 doors and so did Mr. Gallagher. They could have gone with me and 

 I invited them to do so. They would not do it refused. 



Mr. Elliott. You were at perfect liberty to go with us ? 



Mr. Clark. I wish to read this letter. 



The Chairman. I understand the matter perfectly. Mr. Elliott 

 and Mr. Gallagher were sent up by this committee and you were 

 selected to go up there on behalf of the department, and I did not 

 know that fact. When I learned you were up there I said they should 

 make an examination independent and alone for the committee. I 

 am responsible for that. 



