718 INVESTIGATION OE THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OE ALASKA. 



Mr. Stephens. Whose report is that? 



Mr. Elliott. Falconer, 1874; a shrewd, hard-headed, thorough- 

 going Scotchmen, who loooked into everything closely. He was 

 the most valuable assistant I had there in preparing my tables of 

 weights and measures. I am glad to do him credit. 



Mr. Stephens. Where is he now? 



Mr. Elliott. He is living. He is an old man, 82 years old, and 

 lives at Wilton, N. Dak. 



Falconer also, on this same page 57, Seal and Salmon Fisheries, vol- 

 ume 1, presents: 



The following table will show the weights of a number of male seals, taken in the 

 month of July, 1873, from 1 year old up to 6: 



Age. 



J. year. 



2 years 



3 years 



Weight. 



Pounds. 

 33 to 46 

 53 to 68 

 76 to 89 



Age. 



4 years 



5 years 



6 years 



Weight. 



Pounds. 

 90 to 111 

 120 to 146 

 175 to 200 



You see, there he states the weight of a 1 -year-old seal July 10, 

 1873, as from "33 to 46" pounds. The mean of it is pretty nearly 

 my table. He makes it 39J pounds and I make it 39 pounds, I 

 believe. 



Mr. Bruckner. Is there any difference in the quality of the skin 

 of a male and of a female ? 



Mr. Elliott. Not at all, sir, except the female skin, I think, is 

 more even; that is, up until they are three years old. From that time 

 on they never change, although the males get worse after their 

 fourth year until they get absolutely worthless; that is, in their 

 sixth year. 



1875. Under date of October 11, 1875, Chief Special Agent Bryant, 

 in his annual report for 1875, has this to say of the yearlings as he 

 observed them that season, to wit: 



The young male seals return to the islands the first year at the same time of the 

 females, in July, and for every additional year of their age, 10 or 15 days earlier (p. 65, 

 Seal and Salmon Fisheries). 



Again he says, on page 66, following the above, with regard to the sea margins of th« 

 hauling grounds: 



These beaches occupied by the intermediate ages from 1 to 6 years old, together 

 with the few superanuated ones whose age unfits them to cope with the beach masters 

 are called to distinguish them from the breeding places, the hauling grounds. It is 

 from this class or these hauling grounds that the seals are taken for their skins. 



There he puts the yearlings on the hauling grounds. 



1876. Again in his annual report for 1876, dated "St. Paul's 

 Island, September 26, 1876" (p. 92, following), Chief Special Agent 

 Bryant lias this to say: 



Of the holluschickie or young males between the ages of 2 and 5 years, there is 

 quite a visible increase shown by their proportions when seals are driven in to kill 

 for food since the quota was full. The number of yearlings or last year's pups that 

 have returned to the island is greater than -any year since 1872. 



Bear in mind that all these agents had the constant advice and 

 suggestions of the natives. It is in sworn testimony here, that the 

 natives know the age of a seal instantly by sight. That is sworn to 

 by Mr. Lembkey. They never make a mistake. He says they are 

 experts, and they never make a mistake. 



