INVESTIGATION OF THE FUE-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 625 



As you are aware, we have handled these sealskins for many years, and, had those 

 of the 1910, 1911, and 1912 catches differed in any way from usual, we could not have 

 failed to have noticed it. 



The weight of the various sizes of the skins taken in 1910, 1911, and 1912, as you 

 may have seen from the catalogues, further go to show that they were flayed in exactly 

 the same manner as usual. 

 You are at liberty to use this letter for any purpose you may wish. 

 Yours, truly, 



C. M. Lampson & Co. 



I also addressed the following letter to Messrs. George Rice & Co. 



Mr. McGutre. These letters will be inserted at this point, Mr. 

 Chairman, in connection with his testimony? 



The Chairman. Yes. 



Mr. Lembkey. I addressed also the following letter to Messrs. 

 George Rice & Co., 40 Great Prescot Street, London, England: 



1101 Woodward Building, 

 Washington, D. C, January 22, 1914. 

 Messes. George Rice & Co., 



No. 40, Great Prescot Street, London, England. 



Gentlemen: Statements have been made recently before committees of Congress 

 to the effect that for 15 years last passed fur seals killed for their skins on the Pribilof 

 Islands, Alaska, were so skinned that an unusual and unnecessary amount of blubber 

 was allowed to remain on the pelt for the purpose of increasing the normal weight of 

 the skin and thereby creating the impression that such skins were taken from animals 

 much older than those actually killed. 



Assuming that your firm has handled the greater proportion of such skins sold in 

 London during the period mentioned, as well as during periods prior thereto, and that, 

 by reason of the experience thus obtained you are in a position to judge of the truth or 

 falsity of such statements, I have respectfully to reqi:est that you do me the favor of 

 furnishing me with a signed statement in answer hereto, stating whether or not in your 

 judgment Alaska sealskins taken since 1899 carried more blubber than formerly, 

 whether they or any of them carried excessive amounts of blubber, and whether in 

 short, in your opinion any attempt at delusion and fraud was practiced in the killing 

 and skinning of fur seals during the period mentioned. 



I may use your reply to this letter as evidence before a committee of Congress, 

 unless you request me to refrain from so doing. 

 Respectfully, 



W. I. Lembkey. 



To that letter I received the following reply : 



65 Queen Street, 

 London, E. C., February 3, 1914. 

 Mr. W. I. Lembkey, 



1101 Woodward Building, Washington, D. C, U. S. A, 



Dear Sir: In reply to your letter of 22d January, in our opinion, based upon an 

 experience of over 30 years handling of Alaska and other fur sealskins, we have not 

 found an excessive amount of blubber on the sealskins from the Pribilof Islands during 

 the last 15 years, nor have we found that Alaska sealskins carry more blubber than 

 skins taken prior to the year 1899. 



We might mention that we examine all raw fur sealskins shipped to London for 

 public sale and we issue our detailed reports to the fur trade, and we have no hesita- 

 tion in saying that a good coating of blubber in conjunction with plenty of salt is the 

 best and safest condition in which to pack raw sealskins for shipment. 



We certainly have no knowledge or belief that any attempt at delusion or fraud 

 has ever been practiced either before or since the year 1899 in connection with the 

 Alaska sealskins shipped to London each year for sale, and as we are in such close 

 touch with all London firms interested in sealskins, we can go further and state that 

 no one over here entertains any opinion to the contrary. 



You have our permission to use this letter as evidence before any committee of 

 Congress if you desire to do so. 



Any information you can give us with reference to the future developments with 

 regard to the seals on the Pribilof Islands will be of great interest to us. 

 We are, yours, faithfully, 



George Rice, (Ltd.), 

 F. Allison, Secretary. 



53490—14 40 



