100 OliAL ARGUMENT OF SIR RICHARD WEBSTER, Q. C. M. P. 



So much for what I propose to establish as to the question of the 

 population of Behriug Sea by seals. I then proi)ose, Sir, to establish 

 that as a rule the seals do not feed while resorting to the islands. 1 

 must not be mivsunderstood or my language must not be so framed that 

 my learned friends can merely quote it without fully apineciating what 

 I mean. I am not suggesting that occasional seals may not go out and 

 get food. I am not suggesting that early in the year before they go to 

 the islands, and later in the year, even though they may be going back 

 again for a small })ortion of time, two or three days, that they never 

 feed, nor anything of that kind. My case is that speaking of the seals, 

 both male and female, while they are upon the islands as distinguished 

 from being in the Sea, they do not feed. They go in the water con- 

 stantly while they are upon the islands. We know that practically 

 every seal upon the islands, other than the bulls, goes into the sea. 

 But the important contention will be upon tlie evidence that the seals, 

 speaking of them as animals Avhich are for the time being out of the 

 water and on the land, do not feed. 



Next I shall endeavour to establish that from three to four weeks 

 certainly, I know that there is some evidence of a rather less length of 

 time, but that from three to four weeks after the birth of the i^up the 

 females do not go into the water again, or, in other words, that for a 

 period of from 17 days as a minimum up to four or five weeks as a 

 maximum, although the work of the nutrition of the pup is going on 

 during that time, although possibly the growth is more rapid then tlian 

 at other times the mother is able to supply the milk without obtaining 

 any food other than that which her own condition gives. That is by 

 no means unknown altogether in natural history, 1 only mention that 

 by the way, but that the Tribunal may understand my case in regard 

 to that matter I repeat, speaking of the females, it a])pears that from 

 three to four weeks after the birth of the pup, the mother does not go 

 to the sea for food. 



Lord Hannen. — In order that I may gather precisely your meaning 

 what other mammal is there known where under those circumstances 

 the female does not feed. 



Sir Richard Webster. — Both the other races of seals which is the 

 nearest possible the hair seal and I think the harp seal, but there is evi- 

 dence about them my Lord, and ap])arently the walrus and I rather 

 think the sea lion; there are, four or five of this group of animals that 

 have this peculiarity, or rather feature, because I do not think it is 

 right to call it a peculiarity. I subn)it the i)eriod of 17 days or what- 

 ever it may be is quite as remarkable as any other period. 



Lord Hannen. — 1 cannot agree to that. A 17 days' fast is not as 

 remarkable as 10 days. 



Sir Richard Webster. — Ko, but then I had not said 10 days, my 

 Lord. I only said from the point of view we are considering the animal 

 must have drawn on some internal lesources during that 14, 15, 10 or 

 17 days. I think there can be no doubt about it. Your Lordship does 

 not desire that 1 should argue the point now? 



Lord IJ ANNEN. — Jn^o, I only wanted to know what was passing in your 

 mind. You say that the other pinnipeds have the same characteristic. 



Sir Richard Webster. — Yes, but I think one can see, when one 

 comes to consider this question, as fairly as possible, for some reason or 

 other the habits of this seal necessitate in both male and fennile the 

 power of self-sustenatiou or support for a considerable period of time. 

 I think the evidence as to when the pup can support itself is left in a 

 very uncertain condition. There is substantial evidence that it does 

 begin to support itself after three or four weeks old, not that it ceases 



