ORAL ARGUMENT OF SIR RICHARD WEBSTER, Q. C. M. P. 105 

 I call attention particularly to this Mr. President. 



Which in the lirst period extends, in the ionofitude of the Prihilof Islands, from 

 the Aleutian chain northward to about the 59th degree of latitude, includes the 

 whole vicinity of the western Aleutian Islands, and spreads again to a greater width 

 with the Commander Islands as a centre. 



217. In 1891 the area of abundant seals about the Prihilof Islands appeared to be 

 not only changed in form, but considerably reduced in size in the second monthly 

 period; while that of scattered seals was not only changed in form, but much 

 enlarged in area. 



That would be a natural consequence, Mr. President, of more seals 

 having occasion to resort to the islands — you would expect to lind after 

 tlie period of their visit to the islands became practically finished, more 

 seals out in the scattered regions further away. 



It appears, that in most years, in the later summer this area of scattered seals 

 extends to the north-east of the Commander Islands, quite to, or even beyond, the 

 60th parallel of north latitude. This particular extension is probably to be explained 

 by the drift of that branch of the Japan current which flows through the western 

 part of Behring Sea, assisted by the prevailing southerly winds in the same part of 

 the sea in June and July; while the comparatively restricted spread in a northward 

 direction in the eastern part of the sea may be similarly connected with the general 

 movement of the water from north to south in that region. 



Then you may pass the next two paragraphs which bear upon great 

 detailed observations which support their statement, and I wish to read 

 paragraphs 220 and 221. . 



220, An examination of the area surrounding the Prihilof Islands in which seals 

 were abundant in 1891, together with such other facts bearing on former years as 

 could be obtained from pelagic sealers, indicates that the maximum limit to which 

 this area may reach from the islands in the summer months in any direction is not 

 more than about 180 miles, and it is probable that similar conditions obtain with 

 regard to the Commander Islands. 



221. Respecting the number of fur-seals to be found at sea within the areas of 

 abundance above referred to, and exclusive of those frequenting the islands and 

 their immediate shores, it is difflcultto attain to anything like certain results. The 

 endeavour has been made, however, in a tentative way to reach some roughly approxi- 

 mate estimates, by finding the number of seals actually seen in measured lengths of 

 runs in or across such areas, chosen as typical, and made at different times in both 

 monthly periods. The results obtained varied somewhat widely, as might be expected, 

 not alone in consequence of the actual difference in density of the seals, but also 

 from circumstances connected with the weather and the state of the sea surface. 

 The observations made were, however, combined in a general average, which, when 

 thus treated, showed about one seal noted to each mile run. On the assumption 

 (which cannot be very far from the fact j that on the average a width of half-a-mile 

 was efficiently scanned from the deck, this would give a mean of two fur-seals to 

 each square mile of Sea surface within the area referred to. 



I will ask the Tribunal not to overlook that statement when I come to 

 the corroborative testimony which I shall submit from the United States 

 affidavits. I need read no more there at present, but I will ask you to 

 turn to paragraph 313 page 56 where occurs a statement to which I 

 shall direct attention. 



313. So far as the facts actually observed in 1891 go, it is apparent that there is 

 always a considerable number of seals swimming, playing at sea opposite each of tlie 

 rookery grounds, and that these in August consist largely of females, while in Sep- 

 tember great numbers of pu))s are to he found in addition. When extensive kelp 

 beds exist off the rookeries, the main body of seals is generally seen inside the kelp, 

 and at a distance of half-a-mile or so from shore comparatively few seals are seen; 

 while at two or three miles seaward from tlie rookery there is no notable abundance 

 of seals, and if sailing round the breeding islands, in a fog, at a distance of four 

 miles from the shore, it would be ditiicult for the closest observer (apart from other 

 indications) to decide when he had passed abreast of a rookery. 



1 am not now upon the question of the distance which females go 

 specially — I will take that separately j but I refer to the general body 

 of seals. 



