212 ORAL ARGUMENT OF SIR CHARLES RUSSELL, Q. C. M. P. 



very strongly, the domestic and gentle nature of this animal. I think 

 it is the strongest passage of this cliaracter, and therefore I read it. 



The name of the gentleman is Morton, who was the Agent of the 

 lessees and Treasury Agent on the Pribiloff Islands, and he says: 



I believe the American Government to be jnstitied in assuming and maintaining 

 the absolute proprietorship of the American seals. They may, I think, in the broad 

 sense of the word, be regarded as domestic animals. 



Well, I think it requires a very "broad sense" indeed. Then he pro- 

 ceeds: 



They certainly possess qualities of a domestic nature which are susceptible of a 

 high degree of development. During the first two or three months of their lives 

 they are as gentle and docile as most domestic animals: 



Well, " Jinimie" was not. 



They niay be handled and petted, will accept food at one's hands; 



" Jimmie" would not. 



can be taugbt to follow one from place to place, and in various ways are amenable 

 to intelligent guidance and training. Even at mature age they are subject to as 

 much control as are sheep or cattle. 



They may be driven here ^nd there at will; may be separated and driven together 

 again; divided into groups or "pods", great or small, or be herded by thousands 

 with less effort anil trouble than bauds of cattle are herded on the plains. They are 

 far from possessing that excessive timidity which has been popularly attributed to 

 them. They soon grow accustomed to ihe sight of man, and in the absence of 

 offensive demonstration on his part quickly learn to regard his proximity with 

 indifference. 



Now I have read that passage because it is the strongest that I could 

 find as to the general statement of the domestic character of this auimal. 

 Now let me contrast it with a passage which shews what is tlie true 

 character of these animals, how frightened they are of man, and what 

 el^brts they will make to escape from human control. I turn to page 

 1G2, and I wish to point out that the statement which this witness makes 



is for the purpose of shewing the enormous vitality, as he con- 

 974 ceives, of the seals — their enormous powers of endurance and 



vitality. About the middle of page 162, you will find this. — 



I never saw or heard of a case where a male seal was seriously injured by driving 

 or redriving. 



Then he proceeds to say how they fight on the rookeries, receive 

 wounds, and yet are full of vigour. 



Now the next passage I wish to read is this: 



To show the wonderful vitality of the male seal, I will give one instance which 

 came under juy own observation : A drive of about 3,000 bachelors had been made, 

 and after going a short distance was left in charge of a boy; by his negligence they 

 escaned from his control, and the whole number plunged over a cliff, falling 60 feet 

 unou broken stones and rocks along the shore. Out of the whole number only seven 

 w"ere killed, the remainder taking to the water; and these seven met death, I 

 believe, from being the first to go over and the others falling upon them smothered 

 them. 



These are the animals which are easily handled, but which, actually, 

 in order to escape from man, will jump down a clitf sixty feet, pell-mell, 

 helter-skelter, upon the top of one another; and yet they are said to be 

 so easy to control that you may drive them and round them up as you 

 would round up cattle upon the plains. 



1 may of course be misapprehending the effect of this passage. If so, 

 I should be very glad to be correctedand put right; but to say that an 

 animal which will expose itself to the terrible risk of loss of life and 

 serious injury by jumping down a cliff sixty feet high, which will rush 



