634 INVESTIGATION OF THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 



Mr. Lembkey. That is what I am speaking about. The cows 

 arrive on the islands about the 15th of June each year — that is, the 

 first cow arrives then. One might arrive several days before that, 

 but that is the day that usually marks the arrival of the first female. 



Mr. McGuire. How many different seasons have you been on the 

 islands ? 



Mr. Lembkey. Every season since 1899. 



Mr. McGuire. All right. And have you taken part in the killing 

 each season ? 



Mr. Lembkey. I took active part in each killing since and including 

 1900. I was present at each killing in 1899 but did not participate 

 actively. 



Mr. McGuire. Have there been any female yearlings killed in large 

 numbers at any time since you have been representing the Govern- 

 ment there during the killing season ? 



Mr. Lembkey. No. 



Mr. McGuire. Have there been yearling males killed in large 

 numbers since you have been there representing the Government? 



Mr. Lembkey. There have not. 



Mr. McGuire. Has there at any time since you have been repre- 

 senting the Government there been an unusual or unnecessary amount 

 of blubber taken for the purpose of increasing the weight of the skin 

 for any purpose ? 



Mr. Lembkey. Never to my knowledge. 



Mr. McGuire. Could it have been done to any considerable extent 

 without you or the persons under you having observed it. 



Mr. Lembkey. It could not, for the reason that these skins were 

 each weighed by myself or another Government officer after removal 

 from the body and any excessive amount of blubber would have been 

 discovered. 



Mr. McGuire. You agree then, do you, with the statements 

 in the letters of Messrs. Lampson & Co. and — what were those other 

 parties ? 



Mr. Lembkey. George Rice (Ltd.). 



Mr. McGuire. And George Rice (Ltd.), that those sealskins were 

 taken from the seal in the usual way and with the usual and proper 

 amount of blubber ? 



Mr. Lembkey. I agree with those; yes, sir. 



Mr. McGuire. Whatever slight variation there might be depended 

 upon the greater or less skill possessed by the person taking the skin ? 



Mr. Lembkey. That is a fact; yes. 



Mr. McGuire. State whether there is or might be a slight difference 

 by reason of that fact. 



Mr. Lembkey. There is considerable difference in the manner 

 in which the skin is taken off the animal in every killing we have had. 

 I do know, from intimate knowledge of the ability of each skinner, 

 that there is not a single man on the island who skins seals like 

 another man. There might be two or three on St. Paul, but outside 

 of these who skin practically alike, there is considerable difference 

 between the skinningwork of every skinner. For example, wehave on 

 St. Paul a left-handed man or, rather, a man who skins seals with 

 his left hand. He has the peculiar habit of holding his knife whereby 

 the blubber is taken off by the point of the knife clear down to the 

 skin while more blubber is left toward the hilt of the knife, so that 



