642 INVESTIGATION OF THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 



The Chairman. You remember that Dr. Evermann had the skins 

 of three yearling seals before this committee ? 



Mr. Lembkey. Yes, sir. 



The Chairman. And they were numbered 7, 8, and 9 ? 



Mr. Lembkey. Yes. 



The Chairman. It seems to me you said before the committee that 

 you picked these skins out. 



Mr. Lembkey. I did. 



The Chairman. As yearling seals ? 



Mr. Lembkey. Yes, sir. 



The Chairman. And in the hearing they appear as follows: 



No. 7. The sealskin measures 35^ inches long. The seal itself was 41 inches long. 

 The skin weighed 4 pounds 9J ounces. That was called a yearling. 



Is that a correct statement ? 



Mr. Lembkey. I should say it was; yes, sir. I do not remember 

 the figures. May I ask the place from which you are taking that 

 quotation ? 



The Chairman. Yes; it is at page 553, I think, Hearing No. 10. 



Mr. Lembkey. Yes; I see that. 



The Chairman. Now, No. 8 is as follows: 



The seal itself measured 39£ inches. The skin measures 33 inches and weighs 4 

 pounds 3£ ounces. That seal was found dead and was regarded by agents and natives 

 as a runt yearling. 



That is a correct statement, is it not? 



Mr. Lembkey. So far as the age of the seal is concerned, I think 

 it is. I picked it out. 



The Chairman. Now, No. 9: 



The skin is 34 inches long. The seal measured 39J inches. The skin weighs 3 

 pounds 15 ounces. That also was regarded as a yearling. 



These are skins that you had picked out and Dr. Evermann 

 brought them before the committee? 



Mr. Lembkey. Yes, sir. 



The Chairman. They were salted when they were before the 

 committee '. 



Mr. Lembkey. They were. I was not here when they were pro- 

 duced, but I saw them salted in the Fish Commission and also saw 

 them salted on the islands. 



The Chairman. You told the committee that you assisted in 

 branding probably 4,000 small pups or more. 



Mr. Lembkey. I assisted in branding those pups that were branded 

 in 1912. The total of all branded was over 5,000. 



The Chairman. Who ordered you to brand these pups? 



Mr. Lembkey. So far as I can remember the instruction to brand 

 these pups was contained in the instructions of Mr. Clark, from the 

 Bureau of Fishe ies. I have no distinct recollection now as to 

 whether — yes. I am certain that the instructions to brand these pups 

 were contained in those given to Mr. Clark by the Bureau of Fisheries. 



The Chairman. Who gave him orders to go on the islands? 



Mr. Lembkey. As I understand, his instructions were signed by 

 the Commissioner of Fishe ies and probably were viseed or indorsed 

 by the Secretary of Commerce and Labor, although I do not remember 

 having seen them. 



The Chairman. Have you seen the instructions to him? 



