572 INVESTIGATION OF THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 



liave been by a powerful fleet of pelagic sealers, have not decreased more than 10 per 

 cent since December, 1903? 



Then there is another reference to Mr. Lembkey and the London 

 sales. The paragraph concludes: 



And yet your Mr. Clark has officially reported to his chief that the seals on the islands 

 "now number less than 140,000" (see your animal report). Why should "140,000" 

 be suggested when the real figure can hardly be one-half that? Was it not to deceive 

 you' into thinking that the number so deftly suggested is approximately the real num- 

 ber living? I claim that it was. 



The correspondence with Dr. Hornaday arose from that statement, 

 that charge against me of deliberate falsehood and attempt to deceive 

 the Secretary. This letter and charge has been given honorable 

 publication by your committee and is reproduced in this document 

 and to my knowledge three or four other times in these hearings. 



Mr. McGuire. This same statement ? 



Mr. Clark. This same statement. It appears in this final hearing 

 at page 232. 



Mr. McGuire. You were an official representative of the Govern- 

 ment at that time ? 



Mr. Clark. I was a duly accredited special investigator for the 

 Bureau of Fisheries, and the commissioner's appointment was 

 approved by Secretary Nagel. 



Mr. McGuire. And you were the party responsible entirely for the 

 report made to the department from the islands ? 



Mr. Clark. I was. 



Mr. McGuire. With respect to the number and condition of the 

 seals ? 



Mr. Clark. Yes, sir. 



Mr. McGuire. You may state whether subsequent counts and 

 observations confirmed the number in your report at that time to 

 Secretary Nagel, and whether you were right at that time. 



Mr. Clark. I claim that the report of the special agents of this 

 committee which states that in 1913 there was 190,950 seals on the 

 Pribilof Islands vindicates my contention that there were 158,000 — 

 this statement of 140,000 is in error — in 1909. 



Mr. McGuire. And that proves absolutely and conclusively that 

 Dr. Hornaday was wrong in his statement to the Secretary and his 

 accusations to you ? Is that right ? 



Mr. Clark. I think it does. 



Mr. McGuire. Now, what right had he to interfere? 



Mr. Clark. I know of none whatever. 



Mr. McGuire. Was he an official of the Government? 



Mr. Clark. Not to my knowledge. 



Mr. McGuire. Had he been to your knowledge ? 



Mr. Clark. No, sir. 



Mr. McGuire. Do you know of any reason why he should interfere, 

 save and except that he belonged to what they call the Campfire Club 

 of America 3 



Mr. Clark. I know of no other reason. 



Mr. McGuiue. Now, when you say that even the representatives 

 of this committee in their report set forth and approved your state- 

 ment with respect to the number of seals in 1909, I will ask you 

 Whether or not your count of 1913 is not something like 75,000 to 

 SO, 000 more than that of the representatives of the committee? 



