INVESTIGATION" OF THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 779 



Mr. McGtjike. You wanted the company removed? 



Mr. Elliott. Entirely; and I recommended that in my report. 



Mr. McGutre. When did you make that recommendation ? 



Mr. Elliott. I will read it to y on. It is in my report of November 

 17, 1890, which is as follows (House Doc. 175, 54th Cong., 1st sess., 

 pp. 136-138), to wit: 



The condition of the Pribilov rookeries to-day is such as to make the following 

 imperative demands upon our Government, if they are to be saved, as they should be, 

 from speedy ruin: 



First. That no young male seals whatsoever shall be killed on these islands as a 

 source of revenue, either to the public Treasury or to private corporations, for the 

 next seven years, i. e., during the seasons of 1891-1898, inclusive. 



This step is imperative: There was scarcely a drop of young male blood in service 

 on the breeding grounds of either St. Paul or St. George throughout the reproductive 

 season of 1890. There are no young bulls left to speak of, on these hauling grounds, 

 above the 1 and 2-year-old grades — very few of the latter, and not many of the former. 

 It will take at least five years of perfect rest for the scanty stock now left of this 

 character in which to mature so as to serve on these breeding grounds; and it will be 

 two years after this new service is first rendered before the appreciable gain can be 

 well seen; and, in this necessary period of five years' growth not more than one-half 

 of these young bulls thus maturing can be estimated as certain to survive the attacks 

 of their natural enemies at sea — sharks, killer whales, etc. 



Second. That all pelagic sealing in the waters of Bering Sea be prohibited and sup- 

 pressed throughout the breeding season, no matter how, so that it is done, and done 

 quickly. 



This step is equally imperative. The immorality of that demand made by the open- 

 water sealer to ruin within a few short years and destroy forever these fur-bearing inter- 

 ests on the Pribilov Islands — the immorality of this demand can not be glossed over by 

 any sophistry. The idea of permitting such a chase to continue where 5,000 female 

 seals, heavy with their unborn young, or busy with nursing offspring, are killed in 

 order to secure every 1,500 skins taken, is repugnant to the sense of decency and the 

 simplest instincts of true manhood. I can not refrain from expressing my firm belief 

 that if the truth is known, made plain to responsible heads of the civilized powers of 

 the world, that not one of these Governments will hesitate to unite with ours in closing 

 Bering Sea and the Pacific passes of the Aleutian Chain to any and all pelagic fur 

 sealing during the breeding season of that animal. 



If these two steps are taken next year, and a perfect rest established throughout the 

 breeding seasons on the islands, and in the waters of Bering Sea, for the next seven 

 years, inclusive, then the restoration of these sadly diminished interests to their good 

 form of 1872-1874 vail have been well advanced, if not wholly realized by the expira- 

 tion of the season of 189 5. 



Then, with revised and proper regulations for driving and killing, the twentieth 

 century may open with another era of commercial prosperity for these islands, with 

 pleasure and profit for those of us not only at home, but all over the world where fine 

 furs are worn and valued. 



In taking these two steps the Government can not divide the responsibility; it 

 must assume the entire order and conduct of affairs on these seal islands of Alaska for 

 the next seven years. The new lessees of 1890 should have a fair rebate. They are 

 not to blame in any sense whatsoever for the present condition of the rookeries and 

 hauling grounds; not at all. They can not be asked to nurse these shriveled rookeries 

 into shape; to feed and clothe the natives, and maintain an establishment on these 

 islands for that purpose during this necessary period of rest; and if they offered to do 

 it, this offer, for obvious reason, should be refused. 



The skins of a few thousand yearlings and pups which the natives may safely kill 

 under order of the Secretary of "the Treasury every year for food and clothing, just as 

 they killed them in 1834-1843, inclusive, will, when sold by the Secretary of the 

 Treasury, fully meet the cost of caring for these dependent properly, and enable them 

 to live just as comfortably as they have been living. These food skins can be annually 

 brought down to market on the revenue cutters, and these vessels can bring up the 

 suppJies of food, fuel, and clothing necessary for the natives after their purchase in 

 due form by the Treasury Department. 



The new lessees of 1890 in full belief, and warranted by official reports in believing, 

 that they would get at least 60,000 prime skins in the first season and annually more 

 thereafter, during the period of their contract, purchased the entire land plant of the 

 old lessees, i. e., the salt houses, dwelling and schoolhouses, barns, stores and goods, 



