Mr. ATKISSON. I will ask you to look at the signature at the bottom and ask you if you recognize it.

[Witness examines document and counsel examines document.] Mr. ATKISSON. It is an affidavit purportedly signed and executed on the 22d day of August 1973.

This time the work is being done by an outfit called, Western Exploration Co. I suppose it is "Inc."?

Mr. SCHAUSS. No.

Mr. ATKISSON. It is not a corporation? Is Western Exploration Co. like the Poison Spider and the Crazy Woman at all?

Mr. SCHAUSS. It is not a corporation. It was a trade name that we operated under.

Mr. ATKISSON. But it is one of yours?

Mr. SCHAUSS. Yes; and another associate, yes.

Mr. ATKISSON. I point out for the record that once again the annual assessment work requirement is satisfied apparently in the mind of Mr. Schauss by referring to work that is projected to continue until such time as may be required to complete such work.

Once again, we refer to the future in the face of a statute which requires that the affidavit be filed only after the work has been completed.

Mr. Schauss, you recall that our staff visited you a few weeks ago out in Wyoming; do you not?

Mr. SCHAUSs. Yes.

Mr. ATKISSON. On that occasion you said to our staff that the amount of money you had spent on your claims in this group we have been talking about was about $40,000 or $50,000 a year. Is that correct?

Mr. SCHAUSS. Yes, I probably said something like that.

Mr. ATKISSON. Do you want to correct that today?

Mr. SCHAUSS. No, it is just a guess.

Mr. Moss. We may probably follow this up later because a guess is not a very good item for a figure of dollars.

Mr. ATKISSON. Would you say that $40,000 or $50,000, to the best of your recollection, is in the ballpark of what you had spent on these claims in assessment work?

Mr. SCHAUSS. Somewhere in that nature, yes.

Mr. ATKISSON. That is per year, is it not?

Mr. SCHAUSS. Yes, I would say that is about correct.

Mr. ATKISSON. That is about $7 a claim instead of the required $100.

I will ask the staff to show you a 6-page document, consisting of what appears to be ledgers or worksheets, relating to the Red Desert assessment work. In addition, there are copies of some checks.

Mr. Moss. Without objection, that will be inserted into the record at this point.

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