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



Then at the bottom of page 5: 



Sixteen years have elapsed since that work was finished: its accuracy as to the 

 statements of fact then published was at that time unquestioned on these islands, 

 au<l it is to-day freely acknowledged there: but what has been the logic of events? 

 Why is it that wo find now only a scant tenth of the number of young male seals 

 which I saw there in 1872? When did this work of decrease and destruction so 

 marked on the breeding grounds there, begin? And how? This answer follows: 



1st. From overdriving without heeding its warning, first begun in 1879, dropped 

 then, until 1882, then suddenly renewed again with increased energy from year to 

 year, until the end is abruptly reached, this season of 1890. 



2nd. From the shooting of fur-seals (chiefly females) in the open waters of the 

 North Pacific Ocean and Behring Sea, begun as a business in 1888, and continued to 

 date. 



Mr. Foster.— That should be 1886. 



Sir Richard Webster. — I did not know. 



Mr. Foster. — It is a typographical error, I mean. 



Sir Richard Webster. — Oh, I beg your pardon. I am much 

 obliged for the correction. I thought Mr. Elliott was referring to the 

 fact of the small number in Behring Sea, but I am much obliged to Mr. 

 Foster. I proceed : 



Thus the seal life caudle has been literally "burning at both ends" during the last 

 five years. 



That day in 1879, when it became necessary to send a sealing gang from St. Paul 

 village over to Zapaduie to regularly drive from that hitherto untouched reserve, 

 was the day that danger first appeared in tangible form since 1870 — since 1857 for 

 that matter. 



The fact, then, that that abundant source of supply which had served so well and 

 steadily since 1870-1881, should fail to yield its accustomed returns to the drivers — 

 that fact ought to have aroused some comment. 



Then on page 7 : 



I can see now, in the light of the record of the work of sixteen consecutive years 

 of sealing, very clearly one or two points which were wholly invisible to my sight 

 in 1872-1874. 



This does not appear to be a partisan report. 



I can see now what that effect of driving overland is upon the physical well being 

 of a normal fur-seal, and from that sight, feel wamuited in taking the following 

 ground. 



The least reflection will declare to an observer that while a fur-seal moves easier 

 on land and freer than any or all other seals, yet, at the same time it is an unusual 

 and laborious effort, even when it is voluntary : therefore, when thousands of young 

 male seals are suddenly aroused to their utmost power of land locomotion, over 

 rough, sharp rocks, rolling clinker stones, deep, loose land, mossy tussocks and 

 other equally severe impedimenta, they in their fright exert themselves violently, 

 crowd in confused sweltering heaps one upon the other so that many of them are 

 "smothered" to death and in this manner of most extraordinary efiort to be urged 

 along over stretches of unbroken miles, they are obliged to use muscles and nerves 

 that nature never intended them to use, and which are not fitted for the action. 



Then occurs another ])assage with reference to driving. I need not 



read it through, if the Tribunal will kindly run their eye through it. 



There is a passage at the bottom : 



When they arrive on the killing grounds after four or five hours of this distressing 

 effort on their part, they are then suddenly cooled ofl' for the last time prior to the 

 final ordeal of clubbing: then when driven up into the last surround or "pod" as 

 the seals are spared from cause of being unlit to take, too big or too little, bitten, 

 etc., they are permitted to go off from the killing ground back to the sea, outwardly 

 unhurt, most of them ; but I am now satisfied that they sustain, iu a vast majority 

 of cases, internal injuries of greater or less degree, that remain to work physical 

 disability or death thereafter to nearly every seal thus released, and certain destruc- 

 tion of its virility and courage necessary for a station on the rookery even if it can 

 possibly run this gauntlet of driving throughout every sealing season for five or six 

 consecutive years ; driven over and over again as it is during each one of these sealing 

 seasons. 



Mr. Elliott is not alone in this opinion, Mr. President, by any means. 

 I will show you corroboration of this. I merely mention this for the 

 purpose of bringing to your mind what will be the effect, the double 



