INVESTIGATION OF THE FUE-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 513 



very many 3-year-olds could have been killed in 1912 beyond what 

 were taken for food, but in 1913 there was a full quota, and to that 

 quota of 3-year-olds 



Mr. McGuire. Over and above the necessary males for breeding 

 purposes I 



Mr. Clark. Yes, or at least 10,000 more than were taken. 



Mr. McGuire. In other words, the Government could have taken 

 10,000 3-year-olds in 1913 without in any way interfering with the 

 breeding and also to the benefit of the herd for the present and future, 

 because of the natural loss resulting from fighting of increased num- 

 bers of breeding males which can not be active on account of the 

 large number. I do not know that that question is as clear as it 

 might be, but you probably understand what I want. 



Mr. Clark. The point is that these 10,000 animals go into the 

 category of breeding bulls. They can not be killed next year nor 

 the next. Between the age of 4 and 5 years they develop a tremen- 

 dous growth of frame, and by the sixth year have a coarse mane, 

 which renders the skin commercially, of no value. The 10,000 

 animals turned into the category of bulls will produce a dangerous 

 overstock of breeding males. 



Mr. McGuire. Do you think there was a loss of 10,000 3-year-olds 

 last year that should have been killed ? 



Mr. Clark. That is my opinion, that they should have been killed 

 to the benefit of the herd and to the benefit of the Treasury as well. 



Mr. McGuire. What would a 3-year-old hide be worth this year? 



Mr. Clark. I have had a number of clippings from the sale at St. 

 Louis which mention a price of $52 per skin. Whether they average 

 that throughout I do not know. The choice skins — and the 3-year- 

 olds would have been prime skins — brought $52 per skin. 



Mr. McGuire. It is safe to say they would have been worth $50 ? 



Mr. Clark. I think so. 



Mr. McGuire. What would have been the loss to the Government 

 then, this vear ? 



Mr. Clark. I should say it was $500,000. 



Mr. McGuire. Do you state now the loss would be greater next 

 year, under similar procedure ? 



Mr. Clark. I think, by the natural increase of the herd, which 

 would be about 15 per cent 



Mr. McGuire. And continue to be an increased loss until the pol- 

 icy is changed ? 



Mr. Clark. Yes. 



Mr. McGuire. How many seals were killed on the islands last year ? 



Mr. Clark. None were killed under my observation in 1913, and 

 I have not seen the complete list of food killings. I only know that 

 about 2,400 skins were brought down with us in the ship. 



The Chairman. But you do know that there were 400 skins taken 

 there, do you not ? 



Mr. Clark. I do know that. 



The Chairman. You saw those? 



Mr. Clark. Yes. 



Mr. McGuire. In addition to the 2,400? 



The Chairman. They were taken in 1912, were they not? 



Mr. Clark. No; in 1913. 



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