ORAL ARGUMENT OF SIR RICHARD WEBSTER, Q. C. M. P. 181 



Senator Morgan. — There must be, according- to the evidence in this 

 case, a large number of seals that are wounded, as the skins show it. 



Sir Richard Webster. — Tlie skins tliat go to the islands. That 

 the skins show by the animals going to the islands and the shot marks 

 being found in them. 



Senator Morgan. — It is not to be supposed that all of them arrive 

 in due season. 



Sir Richard Webster. — Of course a romance or suggestion is 

 extremely valuable for the purpose of endeavoring to solve this; but 

 surely is it not an unfair argument iu reply to tlie suggestion to point 

 out that as far as the individual seal is concerned that seal is killed. 



Senator Morgan. — It is not a romance that if there are seals wouuded 

 and killed at sea by pelagic hunters they do not reach the islands. 



Sir Richard Webster. — Have I ever suggested the contrary oi 

 that, Sir? I am only entitled to have my argument considered, as I am 

 sure it will be considered by every member of this Tribunal, in the 

 sense in which I wish it to be understood. I have never said they were 

 not wounded. I have never said that seals wounded do not subse- 

 quently recover; and may be for the time being impeded in their course 

 going to the islands. But I submit upon the evidence to come to the 

 conclusion that this wholesale distribution of seals all across the coast 

 remaining down off Vancouver Island. 



Lord Hannen. — All across the ocean. 



Sir Richard Webster. — All across the ocean and remaining down 

 at Vancouver Island at a time when ex hypothesi they should have been 

 at the Pribilof Islands I should have thought on that hypothesis it was 

 difficult to shew it was due to pelagic sealing; and certainly in regard 

 to Behring Sea in the year 1892 it could not apply for in the year 1892 

 there were no pelagic sealers in Behring Sea. 



Senator Morgan. — But does it not apply to those passes through 

 which the seals most go, and in which they are killed in large numbers f 



Sir Richard Webster. — Then I would have thought it would have 

 driven the seals away from there. It does occur to me — I don't know 

 whether you think it is a remark worth anything at all — that a great 

 amount of driving on the islands might make the seals leave the 

 islands. 



Senator Morgan. — Possibly so; yes. 



Sir Richard Webster. — It seems to me an inference that may not 

 unfairly be drawn with reference to the evidence that was referred to 

 by the Attorney General to say that the number of seals has increased 

 at sea rather than diminished. 



In this connection, Mr. President, to clear away all the subordinate 

 parts that I can, and to leave as little as possible to-morrow, might I 

 call attention to the state of matters in regard to barren seals'? The 

 argument of my learned friends disregards the element of barren seals 

 altogether. It is suggested to us by the Tribunal to-day — suggested 

 to me for my consideration — that I am to suppose that seals never 

 suffer from any diseases at all. I am afraid I cannot as an advocate 

 accept that conclusion. I know of no animal, no lish, no bird that does 

 not suffer in the ordinary course of nature from disease, and disease 

 which will at times nearly clear it oft"; and I should have thought it 

 very strong to suggest that seals, having regard to their life, were the 

 only animals known to the naturalists that were exempt from disease. 

 But 1 suppose it will not be suggested that every female seal that is 

 born is capable of bearing pups. But even assume it; what does it 

 mean? The hypothesis of the United States Commissioners, under- 



