INVESTIGATION OF THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 759 



Mr. Elliott. I want to say right here that I regard this committee 

 and its authority hi this business paramount; I was its agent, and I 

 followed the instructions of the committee. 



The Chairman. I did not know that these men had been instructed 

 by anybody to go on the islands. 



Mr. McGuire. I am not complaining; I just want to find out the 

 facts 1 



The Chairman. I want to clear it up because that is the way it 

 happened. 



Mr. Elliott. I want to say, in order to save Mr. McGuire a great 

 deal of trouble, that no man living has had the experience I have had ; 

 no man living has the perspective of that life that I have. Therefore 

 why should I go up and meet any people having lesser knowledge and 

 understanding and argue this question with them ? I was not sent 

 up by the committee to argue with anybody. I was sent up by the 

 committee to get the facts bearing on some points which are men- 

 tioned in the. letters of instructions, and I got them and brought them 

 to the committee. The committee can now take it up with the men 

 who disagree with me, and argue it with them, just as they are doing 

 now under oath. 



Mr. McGuire. Xow, Mr. Elliott, do you know the exact number 

 of months you have been on the islands when the seals were there ? 



Mr. Elliott. I have been there six seasons when the seals were 

 there. 



Mr. McGuire. I say, do you know the exact number of months 

 and days you were there while the seals were there ? 



Mr. Elliott. It does not make much difference, but it was during 

 the six breeding seasons when the seals were there. I have had more 

 experience as a trained observer on the islands than any other man. 

 Such men, like Mr. Lembkey, are not recognized as trained observers, 

 and never will be from the records they have made. 



Mr. McGuire. And who else? 



Mr. Elliott. Oh, Mr. Lembkey and a number of other agents of. 

 the Government like him have been there, years and years. I have 

 been there altogether about two years, or 24 months and some odd 

 days, counting all my time. 



Mr. McGuire. I am asking you 



Mr. Elliott (interposing). I have had six seasons' experience on 

 the breeding grounds. 



Mr. McGuire. I am asking you the number of days you have been 

 there during the actual breeding season and killing season ? 



Mr. Elliott. There are only about 30 days of the active breeding 

 season, and for six seasons that would be 180 days. I was there 

 during every one of those seasons. 



Mr. McGuire. Now, then, you do not seem to hesitate to make the 

 statement that you are the best posted of any man with respect to 

 seals. 



Mr. Elliott. Why should I ? 



Mr. McGuire. And the habits and customs of the seals on the 

 islands. 



Mr. Elliott. Why should I ? Have I not published my authority 

 ever since 1874? Who else has given that authority earlier than I? 



