"282 ORAL ARGUMENT OF CHRISTOPHER ROBINSON, Q. C. 



While on St. Paul Island, in 1892, three different rookeries were named to me as 

 the one on which this particular raid was marie. Nothing was known of it on the 

 islands until the arrival of the revenue cutters the next sirring, and the ohicers on 

 these vessels had heard of it through the raiders themselves. 



While in Victoria, British Columbia, in May, two of the schooner "Challenge" 

 gave me particulars of the raid made on Great-East Rookery, St. George Island, 

 late in 18'J1 ; and when on St. George Island in .July, I asked Dr. Noyes, the Manager 

 of the North American Commercial Company on that Island, for an account of the 

 raid. He told me that the morning after the raid, a native who had been collecting 

 wood came in with the report that there were dead seals on Great East Rookery, 

 but that no vessel was in sight. The number of seals killed was not ascertained, aa 

 they did not wish to disturb those still on the ground. A man was sent across the 

 island, and came back with word that a schoouer was anchored iu Garden Cove. 

 Guards were put on all the Rookeries, but no further attempt at raiding was made, 

 and nothiug more was seen of the vessel. 



Then: 



In this connexion, Mr. Wardman, United States Treasury Agent on the Pribilof 

 Islands for several years, may be quoted: " I asked a man one day if he would shoot 

 if we took after a pirate, and he said he would not. It was only with great persua- 

 sion I could get him to pull me off in a boat. It is no use putting guns into their 

 hands. I asked him why he would not shoot, and he said he did not want to kill a 

 man. They are very cowardly." 



Then they go ou to point out: 



Even were native guards placed on every rookery on both islands, they would thus 

 afford no real protection against raids. They might be bribed by the raiders, or 

 might neglect their duties and not patrol the rookeries ou dark or foggy nights, and 

 even were good watch kept and the presence of raiders detected they would be use- 

 less, and at the most would bat hurry to the village for help. It is assumed that if 

 a revenue-cutter were kejit at each island, no further protection would be necessary. 



and so on. 



All the revenue-cutters habitually come to anchor at night-fall when near the 

 islands, if possible at the village, so that practically the whole island excepting that 

 part of it near the village is open to the raiders. Vessels are known to have anchored 

 to the northward of St. Paul Island for v^eeks, running in to the island at night to 

 kill seals on the rookeries. A proper guard stationed at each rookery might prevent 

 such raids, but a vessel anchored at the village can never do so. 



Then in the British Counter Case, Ap])endix, vol. 2, pages 41 and 43 

 the Tribunal will find an analysis of all the affidavits relating to raids 

 made on the Pribilof Islands. 



They are 8 in number, and particulars are given as to the raids they 

 themselves are aware of. 



On one occasion. 



(A Mr. Folger says) : 



We once ran in too near the village and saw a cutter there and went away again, 

 but we found the coast clear the next night and got al)Out 500 skins. We could see 

 the light at the village. 



We knew very well the natives did not keep a good watch. We got about 2,000 

 skins that year off the Islands. 



And John Kraft speaks of the same thing. I am not certain if Mr. 

 Folger is a citizen of the United States. I thiidc so, however, for the 

 simple reason that it is stated in several places there is no instance of 

 a Canadian vessel having raided the Islands and, therefore, I assume 

 these persons like Mr. Folger are American citizens. I find, that he is 

 so described at p. 88. 



Then we have very direct evidence of the manner in which these raids 

 were carried out, in the British Counter Case page 297; ami in the 

 Appendix to that Counter Case volume I page 154 and page 293 specific 

 evidence is given as regards a great many raids which have occurred 



