INVESTIGATION OF THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 795 



The Chairman. Without intending to interrupt in any way what- 

 ever, is it not a fact that if you throw handfuls 01 salt m a skin it will 

 get heavier but it ma\ dry later ? In other words, it depends on the 

 length of time, whether the salt is applied — if there were a skin here 

 now, and if we threw 2 pounds of salt on it, would it weigh less after 

 the 2 pounds of salt were put on it ? 



Mr. Elliott. Certainly not. 



The Chairman. It seems to me — and I may have a wrong impres- 

 sion — that the theory is that if a skin has been in the salt for four 

 months it may make a difference in the weight. Is that your con- 

 tention-, Mr. McGuire ? 



Mr. McGuire. The contention, Mr. Chairman, is this: In the 

 former testimony before the committee, I at least received the im- 

 pression that Mr. Elliott took the position that after a skin was 

 salted, immediately before shipment to be sent to market, after the 

 fragments and juices extracted by the salt were off of the skin, that 

 the skin would still be heavier because it was wet. Now, I am not 

 certain that I understood him correctly. 



Mr. Elliott. You did not. 



Mr. McGuire. I also understood the department officials to say 

 that after experimentation the skins were lighter. It arose over the 

 question of the salting of these 400 skins. There was a contention 

 yesterday as to whether I had understood Mr Elliott's position cor- 

 rectly. Of course, the heft or lightness of the skin depends upon the 

 amount of salt at the time, if you are going to weigh them at the 

 time, but after four or six months 



The Chairman (interposing). But I say that the course of time 

 must necessarily 



Mr. Elliott (interposing). The length of time does not have any- 

 thing to do with it; i. e., with my position in the case. 



Mr. Stephens. In my country the climate has something to do 

 with it. It will necessarily dry, but in Alaska the climate is different. 



Mr. McGuire. The skins are packed by twos and heretofore they 

 have been sent to the London markets. Now, when they take them 

 there and shake them out, allowing a reasonable time for transporta- 

 tion, say two months, the contention of the department is that they 

 would De lighter. I understand Mr. Elliott's contention is that they 

 would be heavier. That is what I am inquiring about. 



Mr. Elliott. Now, let me show you where Mr. McGuire has not 

 correctly understood me. 



Mr. McGuire. I am asking you. 



Mr. Elliott. You are laboring under a misapprehension. 



Mr. McGuire. Wait until I ask you a question. 



The Chairman. For the benefit of the committee, let us see what is 

 correct. 



Mr. McGuire. But he could answer my question and then make 

 any explanation he wants to. I am interrogating him. 



Mr. Elliott. And I answer you that you are mistaken. 



Mr. McGuire. All right. 



Mr. Elliott. Now, I will prove it. 



Mr. McGuire. But wait until I get through with this page. I 

 have here hearing ]No. 1, May 31 and June 2, 1911, page 13. Mr. 

 Townsend is interrogating Mr. Elliott. It is the last paragraph at 



