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



Then occur the references to 2,0 seals killed on St. George, and 18 

 seals on St. Paul, the result of which is as to the male seals — that no 

 particle of food was found in any of them. 



Then: 



From the large North rookery on Behriug Island, 5th September, an adult male or 

 "seacatch," two females, and au nnweaned pup, Avere driven directly from the rook- 

 ery ground, about 200 yards distant, and killed, by permission of the authorities, 

 for presentation by us as specimens to the British Museum. The stomachs of all 

 four were completely empty, with the exception of a few worms in those of the three 

 adults. Not only the pup, but the females, and oven the old male, were fat and in 

 good condition. 



And ill this connection 1 mention, but do not read, Mr, President, 

 paragraph 306, which was read by me yesterday during the Attorney 

 General's argument, which bears directly upon this. 



Now I call your attention to paragraph 242. 



Perhaps the most notable leature in regard to this food question, and one directly 

 consequent on the prolonged abstinence of the seals from food while on and about 

 the islands, is the entire absence of all excrement on the rookeries and hauling 

 grounds. Captain Bryant appears, however, to be the only author who has specially 

 mentioned this particular and striking fact. He writes: 



"The fact of their remaining without food seems so contrary to nature, that it 

 seems to me proper to state some of the evidences of it. Having been assured by the 

 natives that such was the fact, I deemed it of sufficient importance to test it by all 

 the means available". 



I hope the Tribunal will kindly follow this a little carefully, because 

 in a later affidavit, contrary to all the other testimony, and contrary to 

 his own testimony before given in this respect, Mr. Stanley Brown 

 expresses the opinion that excrement is to be found on the rookeries. 

 I shall contrast those two statements in order to show that I think he 

 is mistaken in the opinion he forms upon that. 



Accordingly, I took special pains to examine daily a large extent of the rookery, 

 and note carefully the results of my observations. The rocl^s on the rookery are 

 worn smooth and washed clean by the spring-tides, and any discharge of excrement 

 could not fail to be detected. I found, in a few instances where newly-arrived seals 

 had made a single discharge of red-coloured excrement, but nothing was seen after- 

 wards to show that such discharges were continued, or any evidence that the ani- 

 mals had partaken of food. Tliey never left the rocks except when compelled by 

 the heat of the sun to seek the water to cool themselves. 



That bears on the question that his Lordship put to me. 



They are then absent from the land for but a short time. I also examined the 

 stomachs of several hundred young ones, killed by the natives for eating, and always 

 without finding any trace of food in them. Tlie same was true of the few nursing 

 females killed for dissection. On their arrival in the spring they are very fat and 

 unwieldy, but when they leave, after their foiu* months' fast, they are very thin, 

 being reduced to one-half their former weight. 



I cannot help calling attention to this, that this is evidence written 

 by a competent gentleman, a gentleman who is a witness for the United 

 States, and writing independently of any controversy or any question, 

 simply with a desire, no doubt, to tell scientifically what was the actual 

 fact- 

 Senator MoRGrAN. — Does the evidence show, or is there any state- 

 ment of the weight of those females when they arrive, and the weight, 

 when they go out. 



Sir KiCHARD Weester. — N'ot comparatively, Mr, Senator, but there 

 is abundant evidence about various ages. There is no comparison. It 

 could not be taken ; and there are no statements beyond the fact that 

 they are emaciated and thinner. 



Senator Morgan. — And no statement of what they weigh when they 

 arrive in this condition? 

 Sir E-icHARD Webster. — No. 



