ORAL ARGUMENT OF SIR RICHARD WEBSTER, Q. C. M. P. 201 



time or otlior to look tliem through; but I think I mig-ht pass to the 

 year 1874, because it is early enougli. There is an important extract 

 in 1873, to which attention should be called: 



813. 1873. It was now found that the 3-year-olcl seals afforded the best marketable 

 skins, and tlie killinp: was directed to those. The "reserves" became reduced to 

 half their former nnnihcr, and each beachmaster had on the average lifteen females. 

 "When the rookeries broke up at the close of the breeding season, the females lin- 

 gered instead of leaving them as before. In September and October a few young 

 were born, showing that some females had not been served at tlie proper time in 

 1872. The females were still increasing 5 per cent, annually in number. 



Then i^aragTaph 815 is : 



In 1874, Lieutenant W. M.aynard, U. S. N., investigated the conditions of seal life 

 on the Pribilof Islands as Special. Governnuiit Agent. He recommended that en- 

 larged copies of m;!])s of the breeding grounds should be furnished to the agents in 

 charge of the islands, who should be required to compare these each year with the 

 respective breedingrookeries. "This, if carefully done, will afford data, alter a time, 

 by which the tishcVies can be regulated with comparative certainty." Respecting 

 the number of seals killed, he says: "Since 1870 there have been killed on both 

 islands, in round numbers, 112,000 young umle seals each year. Whether this 

 slaughter has prevented the seals from increasing in number or not, and, if so, to 

 wh;it extent, can only be deduced from their past history, which, unfortunately, is 

 imperfectly known."' He is inclined to think that no decrease had occurred between 

 1872 and 1«74, but states that the period was too short to decide whether the killing 

 was excessive. He adds: "Thcnumbernow killed annually is entirely exi)eri mental, 

 and we have nothing to start from as a basis." Waynard further states that the 

 number of bulls in this year was not more than one-tenth that of the females. 



Then page 138, paragraph 81C. 



816. The killing was this year confined to seals less than 5 years old, and more 

 2-yea.r-olds were taken than in any year since 1870. This left a large number of 

 males to mature. Many young were, however, born as late as August. In his offi- 

 cial Report for this year JJryant protests. 



I told you I think that Bryant who made affidavits on these matters 

 left the Islands in 1877. 



Bryant protests against the killing of pups for food, characterizing it as "a great 

 waste," and adding^ "I can find no precedent for this previous to the transfer of 

 the island to the United States, only that the former Russian Fur Company allowed, 

 as an extra indulgence to the natives, after the close of the season's sealing, to take 

 500 of these young seals for feasting. 



You know probably Mr. President that the killing of pups continued 

 right away till 1890 that is to say in addition to the 100,000 taken for 

 commercial purposes I think the number was in 20 years 93,000 pups 

 were taken for killing but this though called to their attention as a great 

 amount, at the rate of about 4,000 or 5,000 a year, was allowed to continue 

 till 1890. 



Senator Morgan. — Was it stopped after 1890. 



Sir EiCHARD Webster. — Not till 1890 but after that it was stopped. 



Now in page 138 the end of paragraph 81G. 



Bryant also states in the same Report that a residence of seven successive seasons 

 on the islands had convinced him that the killing of 100,000 annually did not leave 

 a sufiicient number of males to mature for tlie wants of the increase in the number 

 of females. He explains his reasons for this in some detail. 



Now, Mr. President, it may be right or it may be wrong — that we 

 will consider presently when I go through the whole of the evidence — 

 but at any rate I show you this is no imagination of those who have 

 looked into tliis matter impartially. That as early as 1875 it was 

 pointed out that from 7 years experience the 100,001) killetl did not 

 leave a sufficient number of males to mature. 



In 1876 the isecoud paragraph of page 817. 



