244 THE FUR SEALS OF THE 1'KIHJLOF ISLANDS. 



15. In this greater reduction, of the pelagic catch, compared with the gradual 

 decrease of the herd, there is a tendency toward equilibrium, or a stage at which the 

 numbers of the breeding herd would neither increase or decrease. In considering 

 the probable size of the herd in the immediate future, there remains to be estimated 

 the additional factor of decline resulting from reductions in the number of surviving 

 pups caused by the larger pelagic catch of 1894 and 1895. 



1<>. The diminution of the herd is yet far from a stage which involves or threatens 

 the actual extermination of the species, so long as it is protected in its haunts on land. 

 It is not possible during the continuance of the conservative methods at present in 

 force upon the islands, with the further safeguard of the protected /one at sea, that 

 any pelagic killing should accomplish this h'nal end. There is evidence, however, 

 that in its present condition the herd yields an inconsiderable return either to tin- 

 lessees of the islands or to the owners of the pelagic fleet. 



Note: The tables referred to in this joint statement as Appendix I and II are already printed in 

 Appendix I of this report (pp. 211 and 212) and need not be repeated here. 



AFFIDA FITS OF DTERS AND DRESSERS OF FUR-SEAL SKINS. 



The following affidavits of dyers and dressers of fur-seal skins, submitted to the 

 conference of fur-seal experts, may here be placed on record: 



QfKEN HTREKT, London, E. <'. 



I, Geo. Rice, of the city of London, England, make oath and say that I carry <m the business of 

 ;i dver and dresser of furs and seal skins in this city; that I have been engaged in the seal-skin trade 

 for over thirty years and have personal and practical experience in the various processes of dressing 

 and dyeing skins; that I employ 500 men in my business; that of the seal skins that have been taken 

 in the waters of the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea by sealing vessels I have dressed or dyed the 

 skins of the pelagic catch of 1894, 85,000 skins; 1895, 70,000 skins; 1896, 50,000 skins. 



That I personally and through my expert employees have had every opportunity of examining 

 these skins; that a part of them, being those of pups or young seals, are not with certainty 

 distinguishable as to sex, but the greater portion of the skins can be readily determined ; that of 

 these latter, embracing the pelagie catehes of 1894, 1895, 80 per cent, and of 1X96, 70 to 80 per < m, 

 were the skins of females; that of the skins of adult seals in these catches, the skins of males were 

 rarely found. I further say that I make this declaration in the interest of truth and for the 

 information of those who are concerned in making regulations for the preservation of the seal herd, 

 and I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true. 



GEO. RICE. 



Sworn to at " The Elms," Edmonton, in the county of Middlesex, this 26th day of October, 1897, 



before me. 



ALFRED HODGKIXSON, 



A Commission! r fur < tilths. 



I, Edmund Wisehhusen, of 138 New North road, Islington, in the county of London, seal dresser 

 and unhairer, solemnly and sincerely declare as follows: 



1. I have been engaged in the seal-skin trade for over thirty-five years. I have actually worked 

 on seals for the last forty years, and on the Bering Sea seal ever since they have been brought to 

 market. I have had personal and practical experience in the various processes of dressing and 

 nnhairing seal skins during that period. I have been regularly employed as an expert by the largest 



operating directly against next year's supply, is 57.22 per cent less than the pelagic catch which 

 operated against the supply of 1897 (wee, also, Appendix I); or, if we compare merely the siiniiin-r 

 catches, inasmuch as the possible spring catch of 1898 is an unknown factor, we have a reduction of 

 43.46 per cent. (Later and more accurate returns show the figures here given for the pelagic catch of 

 1897 to be slightly in error. The Bering Sea catch should be 16,464 and the complete catch 39,110.) 



