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



But now occurs some very important evidence on page 55, section 310 

 of tlie British Commissioners llepoit, whicli I read witliout comment 

 except to say by anticipation again tbat you will see whether the Com! 

 missioners have excluded any evidence that might tell against theni; 



310. In the Report on the fur-seal fisheries of Alaska (1889), Mr. W. B. Taylor states 

 that the cows go out every day for food to a distance of 10 or 15 miles, or even 

 further. 



Of course if that means every day after they go on shore, that is 

 obviously wrong. If it means every day u.ler they have begun to feed, 

 it may be true or it may not. I do not wish to tie anybody to the dis- 

 tance of " 10 or 15 miles, or even farther". I do not of course wish to 

 dispute that if it be a matter of calculation. 



Mr. p. F. Ryan states that the main feeding gronnds of the seal during the sum- 

 mer stay upon the islands, and to whicli the cows are coutinually going and coming, 

 are to be found, 40 to 70 miles south of St. George Island. 



That, at any rate, does not look like suppressing anything which was 

 against them; but I mention that for the purpose of pointing out that* 

 we have no means of judging on what information Mr. Ryan made that 

 statement, or where that particular place is. 



Mr. G. R. Tingle, in the same Report, says that the seals probably go twenty miles 

 ont in some cases in search of food 



Mr. Tingle had been of the United States Agents or Treasury Agents. 

 All these men that I am quoting from are Treasury Agents of the 

 United States: 



312. The following is a summary of the evidence personally obtained in 1891 from 

 those sn])posed to be most capable of giving an opinion on the subject: 



Mr. G. R. Tiugle stated that he believed seals from St. George went to feed, for the 

 most part, about 30 to 40 miles to the southward or south-eastward of that island. 

 From St. Paul he was not aware that they went in any particular direction. 



Mr. J. C. Redpath did not know of any special place or places to which the seals go 

 to feed, but believed that the females go from 10 to 15 miles from the islands for that 

 purpose. 



Mr. D. Webster thinks that seals go from St. George Island, when feeding in the 

 autumn, about 60 miles southward; he believes that there is a favourite feeding 

 ground in this vicinity, because he has seen numerous seals there when on his way 

 from the islands to Ounalaska. 



Mr. Fowler stated that he believed there was a favourite feeding ground of the 

 seals about 30 miles oft' north-east point of St. Paul Island. This was not from per- 

 sonal knowledge, but depended on statements that seals had been seen in abun- 

 dance there. 



Natives of St. Paul informed us that the females from the rookeries went only 3 or 

 4 miles to sea to feed, always returning to their young on shore the same day. When 

 questioned as to the classes of seals seen further out, as for instance, midway 

 between St. Paul and St. George Islands, they stated that all kinds of seals might be 

 found there, but added again that the females usually do not go far from the 

 rookeries. 



I will leave Mr. Grebnitzky for a moment, and will come back to him. 



Mr. Tillman, the Agent of the Russian Government, in charge of Copper Island, 

 where he has been for two years, thinks that the females go as much as 2 to 4 miles 

 oft" shore to feed, but return to the rookeries every night. 



Mr. Kluge, who has been for twenty-one years in the service of the Alaska Com- 

 mercial Company on several different islands, agreed in this point with Mr. Tillman, 

 and added that he knows from close personal observation, which he was able to make 

 on Robben Island, that the females return every night, as stated. 



Snegiloft", the native foreman on Bchriug Islands, thinks, on the contrary, that the 

 females may leave their young for several days, and may go as far as 10 miles from 

 land to feed. 



Now Grebnitzky, whom I passed for a moment: 



Mr. N. Grebnitsky, Superintendent of the Commander Islands, stated, as the result 

 of his own personal observation and long experience, that the females went out to 



