INVESTIGATION OF THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 611 



heavy twine, and he then, with others, weighed the bundles and 

 recorded their weights. 



In his report, Mr. Elliott contrasts the green weights of the two 

 skins of each bundle, before being touched by salt, with the weight 

 of the bundle itself containing, in addition to the skins themselves, 

 all tins loose salt and the heavy twine wrapped around it. He has 

 had this comparison printed at length in his report at pages 122 to 125 

 of this new hearing, No. 1, to contradict the fact demonstrated by 

 the most careful test of weights of the individual skins only, that 

 sealskins in the salting lose a certain proportion of their weight. 

 I have cited these tests, and they will appear in the record. 



As a fact, when these skins are weighed in London, they are not 

 weighed in the bundles, but are weighed after the bundles are opened, 

 and the weights as taken there are the weights of individual skins. 

 When the bundles are opened, the loose salt which each bundle 

 contains falls out and is not weighed. The London weights of the 

 individual skins, therefore, will not include the weight of the loose 

 salt and the twine which figured in the Elliott weights of the bundles 

 made on the islands, and consequently will be less than the weights 

 taken and announced by Mr. Elliott. 



I should like, if the committee will allow me, to introduce, for 

 insertion in the record at this point, a letter written by me, dated 

 January 28, 1914, to Mr. Alfred Fraser, the representative in this 

 country of Lampson & Co., and of his reply to that letter, dated 

 January 29, 1914, as to the manner in which sealskins are weighed 

 in London. 



The Chairman. It is as you have described it just a moment ago ? 



Mr. Lembkey. It is, and my statement was based upon this letter. 



Air. McGulre. I would like to hear the witness read the letter 

 before it goes into the record. 



The Chairman. I wondered why he wanted to put it in at all 

 after stating the substance of it. 



Air. McGuire. It is corroborative of his testimony. 



Air. Lembkey. I thought perhaps the authority on which I made 

 that statement would be of interest to you. 



Air. Stephens. It is unusual for a witness to corroborate himself. 



Air. AIcGuire. He is not corroborating himself. This is the 

 Lampson authority, in the form of a letter written to him corroborat- 

 ing what he says, and is the basis of his statement. 



Air. Stephens. Who is Lampson? You have taken him as an 

 authority here. 



The Chairman. Lampson & Co. are the furriers in London to 

 whom we sell the skins. 



Air. Lembkey. Auctioneers of these skins in London for many 

 years. 



Air. Stephens. Have we their statement anywhere else in the 

 record % 



Air. Lembkey. Not that I am aware of. 



Air. Stephens. Then I have no objection to that going in the 

 record. 



The Chaieman. The witness may read the letters, and they will be 

 printed in the hearings at this point. 



