662 INVESTIGATION OF THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. . 



Mr. Gallagher. I believe it was in a matter of that kind, yes, sir. 



Mr. McGuire. Why in a matter of that kind any more than in 

 any other matter ? 



Mr. Gallagher. Well, I do not think they could understand 

 English well enough to understand these questions. I think you could 

 go on the street corner and make yourself understood to them, but 

 when it came to putting certain questions to them and requiring cer- 

 tain answers, I believe it would be better to have an interpreter to 

 interpret those questions to them. 



Mr. McGuire. Your idea from your experience, then, was that 

 they had not a sufficient understanding of the English language — that 

 they might not get a correct understanding of the interrogatories — 

 is that your idea ? 



Mr. Gallagher. I think some of them, at least, would have been 

 unable to understand them. 



Mr. McGuire. Do you think there were those who could have 

 safely interpreted the English language ? 



Mr. Gallagher. I do not think I got to know the natives well 

 enough to be qualified to answer that. 



Mr. McGuire. But you did not undertake to interrogate them at 

 any time, or any of them, without the interpreter ? 



Mr. Gallagher. Xo, sir. 



Mr. McGuire. Is that true? 



Mr. Gallagher. Yes, sir. 



Mr. McGuire. And during your entire examination — that is, the 

 examination made by Mr. Elliott, of which you took notes — you used 

 the interpreter regardless of whether the}' could or could not talk 

 English; is that true? 



Mr. Gallagher. Yes, sir. 



Mr. McGuire. Were you there when they had a meeting, made a 

 statement, and requested Mr. Elliott to take that statement? 



Mr. Gallagher. When who requested? 



Mr. McGuire. Were you there when the natives had a meeting, 

 made a statement, and offered that statement to Mr. Elliott? 



Mr. Gallagher. I do not recall that. We had three meetings, and 

 those are the only statements that I know of. 



Mr. McGuire. You do not know whether they did get together, — 

 that is, the natives — and agree upon the facts elicited by Mr. Elliott's 

 questions, and that they offered that statement to Mr. Elliott while 

 there ? Do you know whether that was done ? 



Mr. Gallagher. Oh, I think I understand what you are after. 

 The interpreter would read these questions to the natives, then 

 instead of one native immediately responding to that question, they 

 would get their heads together and talk in Aleut, and then after they 

 had finally come to some understanding among themselves they would 

 give their answer to the interpreter, who would interpret it, and I 

 would put it down. 



Mr. McGuire. Did you and Mr. Elliott take all the statements and 

 everv statement tendered vou bv the natives with respect to the 

 matters about which they had been interrogated 3 



Mr. Gallagher. We took down everything which purported to be 

 an answer to the question that was directed to them. 



Mr. McGuire. There were answers that you did not take down — 

 is that right ? 



