INVESTIGATION OF THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 517 



and treated, in common with. Mr. Marsh and Mr. Lembkey, to deter- 

 mine the action of salt on the skin. 



Mr. Stephens. Now, can you give us the percentage basis of 

 decrease between a green hide and a salted dry hide ? 



Mr. Clark. Exactly ? 



Mr. Stephens. Yes; if we get that I presume we can arrive at 

 the same relative difference between the small hide and the large 

 hide. 



Mr. Clark. We took the 205 green skins and averaged them, and 

 that average was 5 pounds 9 ounces. That is, the 205 skins aver- 

 aged 5 pounds 9 ounces in a green state, and after they had been 

 salted from 7 days to 15 days we weighed them again and they aver- 

 aged 5 pounds 5 ounces. 



In my cross-examination, at the beginning there, I did not make 

 myself clear, and perhaps did not state myself correctly, because/ 

 you see, there are several factors entering into my knowledge. I am 

 glad to have this opportunity of making this explanation of the Lon- 

 don weights, and I wish my statements to be based upon it rather than 

 upon answers to questions which I was under the necessity of answer- 

 ing hastily and categorically at the beginning of the examination. 



The Chairman. You testified on Saturday that only 711 yearlings 

 were taken since 1904, did you not? 



Mr. Clark. I testified that there were 711 skins out of 93,323 

 which were below the regulation weight of 5 pounds, and which 

 migh possibly be intequ'eted as yearlings. 



The Chairman. Then I asked you whether extra small pups were 

 yearlings, and you said yes. 



Mr. Clark. I want to 



The Chairman (interposing). Now, did you say that in the notes? 



Mr. Clark. Could I see what I said there ? Is it possible for me 

 to see what I said there ? 



The Chairman. Did you not say that extra small pups were 

 yearlings ? 



Mr. Clark. I said that in 1896 and 1897 I thought they were 

 yearlings. 



Mr. McGuire. That is what I think he said, Mr. Chairman. 



The Chairman. Now, do you mean to say that you did not answer 

 this affirmatively when I asked you and you said extra small pups 

 must be yearlings ? 



Mr. Clark. Well, for 12 years I thought they were. 



The Chairman. Did you think so on Saturday when I asked you? 



Mr. Clark. No; as a matter of fact, I did not. 



The Chairman. Do you remember that I told you that according 

 to these extra small pups the Government did not collect money 

 enough if they were 2-year-olds, because for the 2-year-olds they 

 collected $54 for a skin and for the extra small pups they collected 

 S28, and that the Government must have made a mistake if the skins 

 are of the same size ? That is the question I put to you on Saturday, 

 and then you said the extra small pups were yearling seals. Do you 

 remember that now? 



Mr. Clark. Well, I said here 



The Chairman (interposing) . Do you mean to say- 



Mr. Clark (continuing). That for 12 years or more I was under the 

 impression that an extra small pup was a yearling, and I did not get 



