202 ORAL ARGUMENT OF STR RICHARD WEBSTER, Q. 0. M. P. 



Bryant again states that he believes the miinber 100,000 fixed for killing to have 

 been too high, and that in his report he had recommended that it be reduced by 



15,000. 



Then in 1881:— 



Lord Hannen. — You are passing over Miller. 



Sir KiCHARD Weester: 



Our agents report a very considerable increase in the number of females since 

 1871. We cannot tell that there is much increase in the number of males. 



That is Mr. Miller who was President of the Board of Directors of 

 the Alaskan Commercial Company. 



Then 8i'2. 



Mr. Carter. — Do not you read 818? • 



Sir EiciiARD Webster. — I will read any one my learned friend 

 wishes, but of course, I am not reading them consecutively. 



Mr. Carter. — No, I observe you arc not. 



Sir EiCHAiiD "Webster. — Of course we cannot. I am making my 

 argument and my learned friend will read of course anything that will 

 support his view when it comes to his turn. I am obliged to my learned 

 friend, however, for calling attention to this. 



818. 1877. Bryant states that this year there was an evident increase in the num- 

 ber of breeding males. He estimates tha t there were about 1,800,000 breeding seals 

 on the islands, as against 1,130,000 in 1869. 



Then I ought to mention this that at paragraph 821 is a citation 

 made from his report that I shall read later on. 



Colonel Murray, one of the Government Agents, dates tbe beginning of a steady 

 decrease of seals from this year. 



that is from the year 1880. 

 Then paragraph 822: 



822. 1881. Elliott, in his rejiort x)rintcd in this year, strongly protests against the 

 unnecessary slaughter of piijis for food purposes. He states in the same report that 

 the breeding rookeries have been gradually increasing since 1857. 



W. B. Taylor, Assistant Agent of Treasury Departmeut on St. Paul in 1881, says 

 that according to information received from those who had been a number of years 

 on the Island of St. George, tliere were as nianv seals there as ever. 



823. 1882. Dr. H. H. M'dntyre, after June 1870 Sujierintendent of the Seal Fish- 

 eries of Alaska for the lessees, states that since 1870 the number of seals on the 

 Pribilof Islands had increased every year. Speaking in 1888 (see under, 1888), he, 

 however, places the beginning of decrease in this year. The same gentleman reports 

 that at this time the desired number of large skins could no longer be obtained. 



Then ])age 139 there are several reports of a glowing character from 

 Mr. Moulton and Mr. Gliddon, and 1 think there is one in 1880, para- 

 graph 827. 



827. 188B. George R. Tingle, Treasury Agent on the Pribilof Islands, states that a 

 frequent inspection of the rookeries on the islands showed a decided increase in the 

 number of cows, with an amjde supply of bulls. 



I call attention to this in connection with a case of what was supposed 

 to be the common observation after 1884. 

 Then paragraph 830 : 



1888. Dr. H. H. Mclntyre, Superintendent for Alaska Commmercial Company at 

 the time on the islands, states that the number of seals has decreased since 1882; 

 that the rookeries do not produce enoiigh to bear the killing of "100,000 by ma- 

 rauders in addition to the 100,000 killed lawfully ". He recommends that the per- 

 mission accorded to natives of killing seal pups for food should be rescinded, and, 

 sijeaking particnlarlj^ of 1888, says: " There are at iiresent, in my opinion, too few 

 bull seals to keep the rookeries up to their best condition." 



That is in the year 1888. 



