ARGUMENT OF GREAT BRITAIN. Ill 



Ou reading tlie paragraph of the British Coniinissioners' 

 Eeport referred to (para. 219), it will be found tliat the 

 Couimissioueis' statement is not intended to apply to all 

 the seals in Behring Sea, and fuither that the concluding 

 expression is not that employed above, but — para"2rr^ ^ ^'^ 



practically independent pelagic schools of a diffuse kind, 



an expression conveying a different meaning. 



Moreover, the mention made in this particular ])aragraph 

 of the Commissioners' Keport, is one oidy incidental to a 

 discussion of the possible bearings of the direction and 

 force of the wind on the direction of travel of the seals in 

 the eastern part of Behring Sea. 



Neither is it true, as is next asserted, that the results of 

 these observations are the only evidence offered on the 

 independence of a large number of the seals in Behring 

 Sea of the breeding-islands, as a perusal of paras. 209-2:i2 

 of the Commissioners' lieport will show.* Additional facts, 

 with the same meaning, have subsequently been observed British Conn- 

 by JMr. Macoun. dix, vol. i, p. u5. 



It is further stated in the United States Counter Case, 

 that the "alleged observations" of the direction of the wind 

 "are not givtn, and, even if true, are quite too slender to 

 furnish a foundation for any conclusion." It is true that 

 the detailed logs transmitted to the Meteorological 

 137 Department of Canada for analysis are not printed Page 109. 



in full in the Eeport, but synopses of the results British com- 

 obtained by such analysis are given on the face of the maps pl,'rt"'Maps m 

 towhich they refer. If the UnitedStates seriously entertain andiv. 

 doubts as to the existence of the observations, they can be 

 submitted for their inspection. 



The assertion nexi nuide, that the British Commissioners 

 advance no proof of the increased pelagic natnre of the 

 seal, is incorrect, as will be found on examining paras. 397, 

 412, 421, 1 83-185, 205-207 of their Report. The lact, stated 

 by them (para. 402), that no decrease has been noted in the 

 number of seals at sea, though the number frequenting tlie 

 islands has decreased, is of itself sufticient proof of the 

 increased i)elagic nature of the seal. 



As to the nonoccurrence of "stagey" or "shedding" rages loe, 107. 

 seals at sea, the Commissioners may be assunied to have 

 based their statement on the best evidence available to 

 them. Its nature is exjdained in paras. 281, 031, 032 of BriHsh coiin- 

 their Report. More complete evidence will be found on dfx,^\^L ii/p?4B 

 this point in the statements appended to the British «'*«9'- 

 Counter-Case. 



It is a fact generally recognized, that fur bearing animals 

 living much in the water, such for instance as the otter and 

 beaver, shed their pelage by degrees, and not so markedly 

 at any one time as to seriously affect the value of tiieir 

 skins. The same fact is believed to explain the ahsonce of 

 "stagey" fur-seals at sea, while the creation of a markedly 



*See also Captain Bryant, in "Mouograph of North American Pin- 

 nipeds," p. 411, quoted in British Counter-Case, Appendix, vol. i, p. 126; 

 and Veniaminov in Elliott, Census Keport, p. 141. 



