764 INVESTIGATION OF THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 



Mr. McGuire. Who made that statement ? 



Mr. Elliott. What is the difference who made it ? 



Mr. McGuire. Who made that statement ? 



Mr. Elliott. I can not recognize the officials themselves, but I 

 copied these from official entries. 



Mr. McGuire. You do not know where it came from? 



Mr. Elliott. From the official journals of the agents in charge 

 of the islands. 



Mr. McGuire. You do not know who made the statements ? 



Mr. Elliott. What is the difference ? Here is an official entry 

 in the journal. 



Mr. McGuire. Do you know who made that statement ? 



Mr. Elliott. No, and I do not care. I do not need to know. 



Mr. McGuire. Is there any other statement of anj?- other person ? 



Mr. Elliott. The}' run all along there. 



Mr. McGuire. Do you know who makes those statements ? 



Mr. Elliott. A half dozen men, all sworn officials, during all 

 these 3 T ears; one man's name appears in one place and another 

 man's name in another place. 



Mr. McGuire. Name one. 



Mr. Elliott. Here it is, 1901, 1902, 1904, 1909, and one of the 

 Treasury agents, named Adams somewhere, said it was a shame to 

 continue this counting, that it was a waste of time, and an impos- 

 sibility to get an accurate count. 



Mr. McGuire. You say a man by the name of Adams ? 



Mr. Elliott. Yes. 



]\Ir. McGuire. Who was he ? 



Mr. Elliott. Assistant agent in charge of the islands. 



Mr. McGuire. How long was he there 1 



Mr. Elliott. I do not know. 



Mr. McGuire. Do you know when he was there? 



Mr. Elliott. Oh, yes; I have cited him. I have a citation of his 

 right here. 



Mr. McGuire. Do you know when he was there? 



Mr. Elliott. Yes. I have a citation here. 



Mr. McGuire. I am asking vou when. 



Mr. Elliott. Wait a minute and I will get it. He says tins thing 

 should be stopped (p. 44, hearing No. 1, 1914): 



Under date of Sunday, September 29, 1895, as to the effect of surf nip on pups, occurs 

 the following: Special Agent Adams, in company with Dr. Voss and Appolon Bor- 

 dofsky, made a count of dead pups on Lagoon Reef rookery. Only one dead pup was 

 found adjacent to the water's edge owing to the recent southwest gales, during which 

 the surf washed over the lower breeding grounds. The count was as follows: Dead 

 pups, 300; pups in dying condition, 40. On page 410, under date of Monday, Novem- 

 ber 11, 1895, Special Agent Adams declares that this rustling among the pups, cows, 

 and bulls to count the dead pups is detrimental in the following language: Examina- 

 tions of the reef, Lukannon Polovina, Ketavie, and Tolstoi, demonstrate the fact that 

 the seals are mixed up, pups and cows being together and hauled well back from the 

 water, a condition which 1 am informed has never existed before to such an extent. 

 It has, therefore, been impossible to make drives from the above-named rookeries. A 

 certain drive was ordered from Middle Hill. The seals seemed restless, a condition 

 noticeable ever since my return to the island September 13. ^liether this is due to 

 constant disturbance during the summer and breeding season, they being constantly 

 subjected to scientific investigation, can not say positively, but am of that opinion. 

 The counting of pups on the rookeries necessitates the driving off of all seals and is 

 detrimental. It should be stopped. 



