540 INVESTIGATION OF THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 



Mr. Clark. I covered that this morning, I think, by quoting the 

 correct statement from our log. 



Mr. McGuire. Yes; I remember that now. 



There was something said by you in answer to some interrogatories 

 by the chairman with respect to re-leasing. What was your attitude 

 in regard to re-leasing, and what was your recommendation, if any, 

 that the Government take over the work of obtaining sealskins and 

 dispense with the lessees ? 



Mr. Clark. I was of the opinion that the dual authority existing 

 on the islands was not to the best interests of the fur-seal herd, and in 

 my 1909 report I tried to make that clear. I think it best that I 

 should simply state what was my recommendation in this matter to 

 the Bureau of Fisheries. It will be found at page 872 of my report 

 for 1909, Appendix A, as follows: 



(4) That an interregnum of three to six years be declared, in which the Government 

 representatives shall administer the affairs of the natives and of the herd without being 

 hampered by consideration of the rights and privileges of lessees, such products of the 

 hauling grounds only being taken as may seem wise to those in charge of the herd, 

 these skins to be cared for in the usual way under the direction of the agents and 

 offered for sale upon the market to the highest bidder. 



(5) That is re-leasing the fur-seal industry for any term of years the present dual 

 control be abandoned, the authority of the lessees being limited to such oversight of 

 the operations of taking and caring for the skins as will insure their proper curing. 



That was my attitude regarding the re-leasing of the islands. At 

 the time that was made, I was aware that the law was mandatory — 

 at least I so understood; but the chairman called my attention to 

 the fact that the word "may" was used. At any rate, it was under- 

 stood the Secretary of Commerce must, in due course of things, let the 

 islands on a new lease, and I made this recommendation as my 

 advice to the Bureau of Fisheries in the matter. 



Mr. McGuire. Were you or were you not in favor of re-leasing? 



Mi 1 . Clark. I was not in favor of re-leasing. 



Mr. McGuire. Were you or were you not in favor of the Government 

 doing the work ? 



Mr. Clark. I was in favor of the Government itself taking over 

 and dealing with the skins. 



The Chairman. You say that the present dual control should be 

 abandoned. What were your reasons for saying that? 



Mr. Clark. Simply because I felt that the interests of the lessees 

 were in the getting of their full quota and all the skins which the 

 herd could give them under that. The interests of the Government 

 were in the herd itself, and if the herd could not stand the quota that 

 might be by accident assigned to it, the Government should be able 

 to withdraw that and to take any action it wanted to in the interest 

 of the herd without being liable to suit for damages because it had 

 prevented a leasing company from taking what was its right under 

 a contract that was entered into. 



The Chairman. Was it your judgment that the leasing company 

 could take seals in violation of the regulations because, we will say, 

 a quota was fixed at 10,000 and if they could not find enough seals 

 there to come within the regulations, they would have authority to 

 go and take those which did not come within the regulations? 



Mr. Cl\rk. No, sir. 



