INVESTIGATION OF THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 753 



Mr. Elliott. Yes, sir. 



Mr. McGuire. Now, when were you next on the islands ? 



Mr. Elliott. I was there under the authority of this committee in 

 1913. I arrived off the islands on July 8 at noon. 



Mr. McGuire. What year? 



Mr. Elliott. 1913. We anchored at the village anchorage, St. 

 Paul's Island, 5.40 p. m., July 8; went ashore the next morning at 

 8.40 a. m., and I took up my quarters in the Government house the 

 same day, July 9, and made my preparations for work on the rookeries, 

 under the authority of this committee. 



Mr. McGuire. And left when? 



Mr. Elliott. Left Seattle July 1, and left Washington 



Mi\ McGuire (interposing). No; I mean when did you leave the 

 islands ? 



Mr. Elliott. I left the islands July 30, at noon, on the United 

 States Revenue Cutter Unalga. 



Mr. McGuire. You landed on the island July 8 ? 



Mr. Elliott. No; July 9, 8.40 a. m. I arrived at the islands July 

 8, 5.40 p. m., United States Revenue Cutter Tahoma, and anchored 

 right at the village landing. 



Mr. McGuire. And left July 30 ? 



Mr. Elliott. Left July 30. 



Mr. McGuire. There were about 23 years intervening? 



Mr. Elliott. Yes; just 23 years. 



Mr. McGuire. During which time you had never been on the 

 islands ? 



Mr. Elliott. No; never had been on the islands at all. 



Mr. McGuire. I wish you would state, just as briefly and concisely 

 as you can, exactly what the second service was that you rendered to 

 the Alaska Commercial Co. 



Mr. Elliott. Relative to Gen. Otis ? 



Mr. McGuire. The second service that you mentioned. Who em- 

 ployed you ? 



Mr. Elliott. I was not "employed." I was asked to act as arbi- 

 trator. 



Mr. McGuire. Then who asked you ? 



Mr. Elliott. The warring factions there. 



Mr. McGuire. Who were the warring factions ? 



Mr. Elliott. The board of directors. 



Mr. McGuire. Was this the same board of directors 



Mr. Elliott (interposing). They were in dispute as to whether 

 they would support Mclntyre or not. 



Mr. McGuire. Was this the same board of directors ? 



Mr. Elliott. Yes; just the same board, and I believe the same 

 men. 



Mr. McGuire. That secured your services before? 



Mr. Elliott. Yes; I believe they were the same men; I believe so. 



Mr. McGuire. Do you now recall which member of the board 

 secured your services ? 



Mr. Elliott. It is difficult to recall that, because it was very brief 

 and did not last over 48 hours from the time the papers were referred 

 to me over at the Smithsonian Institution. If I remember, the 

 president of the company at that time was William Gerstle, and he 

 addressed me a letter with the papers in regard to this dispute; and 



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