108 ARGUMENT OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



seals observed by crnizers in Beliring Sea in 1802, an im- 

 portant error has occurred, in consequence of wliicli seals 

 seen in three i)laces west of the 180th meridian have been 

 placed at corresi)onding distances east of that meridian (or 

 in west instead of east longitude). The error is more 

 important having regard to the small number o£ cruises 

 made to the west of this meridian. The observations re- 

 ferred to are those of the " Yorktown." No notes are given 

 respecting cruises made to the west of the 180th meridian 

 in the same year by two other United States' vessels, the 

 "Ranger" and the "Mohican." 



The logs given in the Appendix (])p. 400-408) cover but a 

 small part of the cruises shown on Chart IV of the United 

 States Counter-Case. 

 United states The eighty affidavits of natives collected by Captain 

 Appendix, p! 228'. Hooper iu the Aleutian Islands, while engaged in. investi- 

 gating the range of the fur-seal, though these would be of 

 material interest, have not been produced by the United 

 States. 



"2. That the Alaslmn Seal-herd has changed its habits as a 

 result of disturbance on the breeding-islands and of pelagic 

 sealing.''^ 



p.^ge 106. As in previous cases, the discussion of the evidence and 



conclusions of the British Commissioners given under this 

 head is introduced by imputing a motive to the Commis- 

 sioners. They are represented as assuming a position, and 

 thereafter endeavouring to support it. The evidence and 

 facts adduced by them are, however, fortunately, not thus 



affected. 

 133 In dealing with the subject described in the head- 



ing above quoted, which nearly corresponds with 

 that discussed by the British Commissioners under their 

 chapter, "(O.) Changes in Habits of the Fur-seal in recent 

 years,^^ a selection is made of some of the points taken up 

 in that chapter, for reply, while others are passed over 

 without notice. 



The subject is further subdivided in the United States 

 Counter-Case into two subordinate sections, denoted (a) 

 and (b) respectively. The first of these includes mention 

 of the Table of catches per man and boat given on p. 74 of 

 the Commissioners' lieport, of the degree of connection of 

 seals found in Behring Sea with the breeding-islands, of 

 the increased pelagic nature of the seals owing to disturb- 

 ance, and, singularly enough, of the question of the taking 



British Com- of "stagcy" scals at sea, which is referred to in another 

 port, para. 281. part of the British Commissioners' Report. 



The Table just referred to, constitutes only a part of the 

 evidence showing that no decrease in seals has been 

 observed at sea in late years. In paras. 403-405 of the 

 British Commissioners' Report, abstracts of statements 

 covering much experience, and a considerable number of 

 years, are given. Neither is any mention made by the 

 United States of the relative effects of tlie increasing wari- 

 ness of the seals and growing experience of the hunters. 



