778 INVESTIGATION OF THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 



Mr. McGuiee. That is what I asked you awhile ago, and you said 

 no. 



Mr. Elliott. That is a regular rule; there is no difference. 



Mr. McGuire. I am asking } t ou whether they were not salted twice ? 



Mr. Elliott. They always are. 



Mr. McGutre. I asked you whether you had weighed the quantity 

 of salt you put on them. 



Mr. Elliott. That the natives put on? 



Mr. McGuire. That you had put on ? 



Mr. Elliott. I did not have it put on. 



Mr. McGuire. Well, it was done, and did you have that salt 

 weighed ? 



Mr. Elliott. Certainly; it is in the bundles; it is recorded there, 

 everv ounce of it. 



Mr. McGuire. Did you have the salt weighed, that you put on 

 those skins at that time, separately from the skins ? 



Mr. Elliott. No ; that is nonsensical. 



Mr. McGuire. You understand my question? 



Mr. Elliott. Why, certainly. 



Mr. McGuire. And you say it was perfectly nonsensical to do it? 



Mr. Elliott. Of course it would be nonsensical to attempt such a 

 thing as that. 



Mr. McGuire. I am simply asking whether you did it? 



Mr. Elliott. It was futile, and foolish to attempt such a thing, 

 and a waste of time to arrive at the same end if it had been and 

 could be accurately done. 



Mr. McGuire. Did the Government ever allow the North American 

 Sealing Co. any rebates on account of the company being prohibited 

 from taking the required number of seals? 



Mr. Elliott. Yes: it did; and Secretary Carlisle said it was in 

 violation of the law and ordered it refunded, and they had a big suit. 



Mr. McGuire. Did you indorse the action of the Government in 

 allowing those rebates? 



Mr. Elliott. No; only in regard to the rental; not as to the skins. 



Mr. McGuire. With respect to the rentals? 



Mr. Elliott. Yes, sir. 



Mr. McGuire. Just what did you do? 



Mr. Elliott. I said the rental ought to be reduced in proportion 

 to the catch that they took. 



Mr. McGuire. In what way did you recommend that? 



Mr. Elliott. Well, I do not remember exactly. I have an in- 

 distinct recollection 



Mr. McGuire interposing). Did you write any letters to Secretary 

 Carlisle? 



Mr. Elliott. I do not think I wrote a letter; I think it was oral. 

 I remember making the suggestion, but I think it was to Secretary 

 Windom; 1 do not think I ever spoke to Secretary Carlisle about it. 

 I never had anything to do with Mr. Carlisle concerning that question. 

 Mr. Windom asked me what he should do with these people. He 

 said. "'You see, thev will have to pav rent if I take them off the 

 islands." I said, "Why not make a rebate on the rental?" That is 

 the way it came about. I said, ' Let them take a few skins if they 

 have to stay there." But I did not want them on the islands at all; I 

 wanted them dropped entirely. 



