842 INVESTIGATION OF THE FUE-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 



induced United States Senator Dixon to introduce December 7, 1909, a concurrent 

 resolution, directing Secretary Nagel not to renew the lease, and suspending all com- 

 mercial killing on the Pribilof Islands for 10 years, etc. (S. Res. No. 90). 



Thereupon, Mr. Secretary Nagel's officials went to work to defeat Dixon's resolu- 

 tions. The following proof officially certified to by the officialism that these men 

 were so engaged is found on page 157, hearing No. 3, 1911, House Committee on 

 Expenditures in the Department of Commerce and Labor, to wit: 



Department op Commerce and Labor, 



Bureau of Fisheries, 

 Washington, December 16, 1909. 

 The Commissioner: 



The Washington Star of December 10 last announced that the Campfire Club, of 

 New York, had inaugurated a campaign to save the fur-seal herd through legislation 

 designed to prevent the re-leasing of the sealing right, the cessation of all killing on 

 the islands for 10 years except for natives' food, and to secure the opening of negotia- 

 tions with Great Britain to revise the regulations of the Paris tribunal. As the result 

 of this movement, on December 7 three resolutions were introduced by Senator Dixon, 

 of Montana, one of which embodies the provisions before mentioned, the other two 

 calling for the publication of fur-seal correspondence and reports since 1904. 



As the object of this movement is at variance with the program of this bureau and 

 of the recommendations of the advisory fur-seal board, notably in the plan to prevent 

 killing and the renewal of the seal-island lease, the advisability is suggested of having 

 Messrs. Townsend, Lucas, and Stanley-Brown use their influence with such members 

 of the Campfire Club as they may be acquainted with with the object of correctly 

 informing the club as to the exact present status of the seal question and of securing 

 its cooperation to effect. the adoption of the measures advocated by this bureau. 



The attached letter is prepared, having in view the object stated. 



Barton W. Evermann. 



These gentlemen, as named above in this letter — ''Townsend, Lucas*" — were mem- 

 bers of Secretary Nagel's ''advisory board" on fur-seal service, which had urged this 

 renewal of the lease, as above attested. They got busy. (See pp. 724-725, hearing 

 No. 12, 1911; pp. 799-800, hearing No. 13, in re Lucas: and pp. 159-160, hearing No. 3, 

 1911, in re Townsend.) This official activity stirred the Campfire Club of America to 

 action, so that it induced Senator Dixon to call his Committee on Conservation of 

 National Resources together, on February 20, 1910, as attested by the following sworn 

 evidence on pages 232-235, hearing No. 5, 1911, to wit: 



"CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE WORK OP THE CAMPFIRE CLUB OF AMERICA IN 

 PREVENTING CHARLES NAGEL FROM RENEWING THE FUR-SEAL LEASE. 



" October 29, 1909. — Mr. Hornaday, as chairman of the committee on game- 

 protective legislation and preserves of the Campfire Club of America, addressed 

 a letter to Senator Joseph M. Dixon, Missoula, Mont., stating the deplorable case of 

 the fur-seal herds and industry, proposing that Congress and the President be asked 

 'to wipe off the slate, ' 'let the dead past bury its dead, ' and 'start out for an absolutely 

 new deal,' having for its object the saving of the fur-seal herd both as a commercial 

 and an ideal proposition. Mr. Hornaday offers to appear before Senator Dixon's 

 Committee on the Conservation of National Resources, with other representatives of 

 the Campfire Club, to present a formal memorial and to suggest a plan of action. 



"Novembers. — Senator Dixon advises Mr. Hornaday that he is willing to take 

 up the fur-seal matter, and will introduce the bill or resolution proposed on the first 

 day that Congress convenes. 



'November 12. — Mr. Hornaday wrote to Senator Dixon, inclosing the original 

 draft of the resolution that was introduced by him December 7, 1890. (S. 90.) 



"November 23. — At a meeting of the 'advisory board of the fur-seal sendee, Bureau 

 of Fisheries.' held in Washington, a series of six recommendations were unanimously 

 agreed upon and immediately transmitted to the Commissioner of Fisheries. In 

 recommendations 1 and 2 it was plainly evident that the advisory board was in favor 

 of the execution of a new lease and of continued killing up to 95 per cent of the 3-year- 

 old males. In view of the alarmingly depleted condition of the fur-seal herd, these 

 'recommendations of the advisory board' caused great disquietude in the Campfire 

 Club. These recommendations played an important part in stimulating the subse- 

 quent activities of the club in behalf of the fur seal. The Campfire Club was unable 

 to understand how, in the existing condition of the fur-seal industry, the advisory 

 board could find it desirable to execute a new lease and to continue wholesale 

 slaughter on land. 



