INVESTIGATION" OF THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 757 



Mr. Elliott. Yes. 



Mr. McGuire. A number of persons ? 



Mr. Elliott. Yes, sir. 



Mr. McGuire. And in the face of that actual counting, as men- 

 tioned by Mr. Clark and the signed statement of all the parties, you 

 state that these pups can not be counted ? 



Mr. Elliott. Yes. 



Mr. McGuire. Now, then 



Mr. Elliott (interposing). They can not be "counted accurately." 

 Please make that point. 



Mr. McGuire. Yes; can not be counted accurately. 



Mr. Elliott. They are estimated. 



Mr. McGuire. You heard the statement and saw the certification 

 of the parties who counted, to the effect that when the pups were 

 old enough they got them out and ran them through as they would 

 run cattle and counted them accurately as they could count cattle? 



Mr. Elliott. I heard it. 



Mr. McGuire. Now, on what date did you leave the islands ? 



Mr. Elliott. On the 30th of July, 1913, on the Unalga, United 

 States revenue cutter. 



Mr. McGuire. Were you invited to accompany Mr. Clark and the 

 other parties to count the pups ? 



Mr. Elliott. Yes. 



Mr. McGuire. Did you at that time have an idea that they could 

 not be counted ? 



Mr. Elliott. Yes. 



Mr. McGuire. You at that time had an opportunity, if you were 

 right, to show Mr. Clark that he was wrong, if you had only remained 

 on the islands two or three days longer, if you were right and he was 

 wrong in the position that the pups could not be accurately counted. 



Mr. Elliott. You assume that there is a doubt in my mind about 

 that business. 



Mr. McGuire. No; I am asking you the question. I say, you had 

 an opportunity to convince Mr. Clark that he was wrong. 



Mr. Elliott. Why should I convince Mr. Clark that he was 

 wrong ? 



Mr. McGuire. Well, if you were right and he was wrong about 

 this ren' important question, which goes absolutely to the correct 

 counting of the female producing seals on the island — I say, if you 

 were right and he was wrong, do you not think it was a material 

 matter, in the interest of the Government and the control of the 

 seals, counting, etc., that you should convince him about the ques- 

 tion in dispute ? 



Mr. Elliott. Not at all, sir. I was to make my report to this 

 committee and not to him. I was not sent up there to convince him. 



Mr. McGuire. You were on friendly terms with Mr. Clark and his 

 party % 



Mr. Elliott. Certainly; but still I had my own rights. 



Mr. McGuire. And you and Mr. Clark were together in taking the 

 measurements of the skins ? 



Mr. Elliott. We were not together at all, sir. 



Mr. McGuire. Was he not there at the time you took the measure- 

 ments of the skins ? 



Mr. Elliott. Yes; and so were the natives, and all the other 

 people. 



