INVESTIGATION OF THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 723 



by the kind flippers, holding their heads flat on the ground by a grip on the skin of 

 the neck at each side while the brand is being burnt in, and then carrying them out 

 of reach. The mark consists of a T, the stem reaching down between the eyes, the 

 cross piece between the ears. A space of half an inch or more is left free between 

 the two burns. The red-hot iron burns through the fur readily leaving a clear surface, 

 a slight additional pressure insuring the destruction of the roots of the fur. Five 

 seconds are sufficient for each of the two marks and both can be made with a single 

 iron. A plumber's gasoline forge will keep three irons in condition and one operator 

 could theoretically brand three animals a minute. In practice about one a minute 

 is quick work. There is always delay in getting the pups ready. Moreover the 

 work is heavy, not merely for the person doing the branding but for the native holding 

 the animal. The 489 pups branded this afternoon represent a maximum half day's 

 work for two men — or approximately 1,000 pups a day. (Rept. G. A. Clark, MS. 

 1912, p. 293.) 



September 9, 1912 (page 295). 



I went very carefully over the rookeries of Reef Peninsula on which the principal 

 brandings have been made, making a thorough search for dead animals. Mr. Proctor 

 on the trip of the launch yesterday, reported seeing some dead pups in the water, 

 whether branded or not he could not determine. * * * The observation, how- 

 ever, raises the suggestion of death from branding. * * •* If these pups die it 

 will be from starvation rather than branding. In a word if dead branded pups are 

 found it must be clearly demonstrated that they did not die of other causes before 

 the verdict of death from branding is accepted. * * * 



Went on board the Homer at 5 p. m. (sailed for San Francisco). 



There were no pelagic sealers out there during the entire season 

 of 1912, killing the mothers! We never heard of " the starvation of 

 pups" until the pelagic sealers got there in 1891-1896-97; and the 

 pups never starved in my time, 1872-1890. What does he mean by 

 saying, after receiving Mr. Proctor's report, that these pups had 

 not died from branding but "died from starvation?" 



Mr. Stephens. What was the age and size of the seals ? 



Mr. Elliott. About two months old. 



Mr. Stephens. About what did they weigh? 



Mr. Elliott. When they were branded ? 



Mr. Stephens. Yes. 



Mr. Elliott. I suppose 14, 15, or 20 pounds. 



Mr. Stephens. What would have been the thickness of the skull 

 of the animals ? 



Mr. Elliott. I am coming to that. I just want to let you know 

 how that death warning was given to him. 



Mr. Stephens. By whom? 



Mr. Elliott. By his own assistant, Mr. Proctor, that "the pups 

 were dead in the water" around there. 



Mr. Stephens. Is that in evidence? 



Mr. Elliott. It has never been in evidence until this hour; Mr. 

 Clark's report is not printed. 



Mr. Patton. How many dead pups did he see ? 



Mr. Elliott. He did not say. 



Mr. Patton. Well 



Mr. Elliott (interposing). But no matter, he reported "pups dead 

 in the water." 



The Clark of 1914 vs. the Clark of 1896-91 . The sworn statements 

 of Geo. A. Clark, February 21-24, 1914, as to results in re branding 

 pup seals, 1912, and the explicit denial of them made officially, 

 Xovember 7, 1896, and February 24, 1898, by Dr. David Starr Jor- 

 dan, Dr. Leonhard Stejneger, Dr. F. A. Lucas, Capt. Jefferson F. 

 Moser, Dr. Chas. H. Townsend, Geo. A. Clark, and Joseph Murray, 



