ORAL ARGUMENT OF HON. EDWARD J. PHELPS. 335 



The above natural increase has been taken at Mr. Phelps.' 

 valuation. Without endorsing tlie exact accuracy of that 

 valuation, it is clear that a large natural increase must 

 €xist which needs to be credited in any correct computation. 



The argument that the killing of every breeding female 

 decreases the herd ^ro tanto, in a geometrical ratio, is obvi- 

 ously untenable, otherwise those ''indiscriminate" pelagic 

 sealers the killer-whales and the native Indians would 

 have long since destroyed the whole number of seals. 



Inasmuch as the tables of Mr. Phelps are based on the 

 Diagrams of the United States Commissioners, it becomes 

 desirable to examine these Diagrams somewhat more 

 closely. 



II. The two Diagrams (A) and (0) are given by the United states 

 United States Commissioners to show the effects of "prop- '^^^^' ^- ^^^' 

 €rly regulated" killing upon land. They relate to the male 

 l)ortion of a hypothetical "herd," which in its natural con- 

 dition would amount to 40,000 males and 40,000 feuiales, united states 

 but which if land killing took place would, according to fs*!^^' ^' ^^^' ^^°® 

 the United States Commissioners, be reduced to 23,568 Diagram (o, p. 

 males and 40,000 females. statercase''*'"^ 



The same conclusions would hold true whatever thessT.Saei!^*' ^' 

 whole number of seals was, it being only necessary to 

 increase the figures in due proportion. 



These two Diagrams relate to male seals. 



Explanation of the Diagrams. 



1. Along the lowest horizontal lines are arranged a num- 

 ber of figures representing successively the ages of the 

 male seals. Opposite each of these figures is a vertical 

 line representing by its length the number of male seals 

 wiiich there are in the "herd," of the age represented by 

 the figure. 



Diagram (A) represents the male "herd" of 40,000 seals United states 

 in its natural state, according to the opinion of the United ^^^^' ^■'^^^• 

 States Commissioners, and before any killiug by man has 

 taken place. 



From the Diagram it is apparent that in this "herd" 

 there would at any given time be 10,000 male pups under 



1 year old ; there would be 5,000 yearlings or males under 



2 years, but over 1 year old; 3,'J0(» 2-year-()lds, or males 

 over 2 years of age but under 3 years old; 2,400 3 year- 

 olds; and so on. And it is quite evident that the total 

 number of male seals in the "herd" may be obtained by 

 adding together all the columns. In Table (a) annexed, 

 the figures have been extracted from the United States 

 Commissioner's Diagram (A), and added up. The total 

 comes to 40,025, and agrees with the total marked on the 

 United States Diagram (A). 



If this "herd" in its luitural condition be in a state of. Compare Brit- 

 "pr-actical stability," as the United States Commissioners pp'.37r-"7o^ "''^*'' 

 for their purpose assume (that is to say, if the "herd" as ca^e'p '^35^**3^ 

 a whole be neither decreasing nor increasing), then, on thenne froin bottom 

 average, the yearly number of births will be equal to the °^ *'"* '"^^'*^' 

 yearly number of deaths. The "herd" will be increased (..^^"p^'^g^^*^*®! 

 each year by the birth of 10,000 pups, and decreased each to. ' ' 



