ARGUMENT OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



129 



John Margathe (Margotich). — As to seals in Barclay Sound: 



States that fur-seals are rarely seen in 

 Barclay Sound, and are usually found off 

 the coast at a distance of from 5 to 15 

 miles. They are found in clear water, 

 and never close to the land. 



He is also agent for five sealing-vessels 

 owned in Victoria. — (United States Case, 

 pp. 308, 309.) 



I told him [United States Agent] that 

 the seals came in every year amongst the 

 islands, and were also found off the coast 

 every year. I said youug pups were 

 caught about the Sound and coast every 

 year; some years more and some years 



less I could not have 



told the captain that seals never came 

 into the Sound, for I have been twenty- 

 five years on this coast, and have always 

 seen the seals come into the Sound every 

 year. 



Never said I was agent for five sealing- 

 vessels, because I am not agent for any. — 

 (British Counter-Case, Appendix, vol. ii, 

 p. 154.) 



Wackeuunescb. — As to seals in Barclay Sound: 



States that seals do not come in close 

 to shore in this locality [Barclay Sound]. 

 Seals are caught oft' the coast at from 5 

 to 20 miles. Formerly Indians hunted 

 them for food, but nowadays white men 

 and Indians hunt them for their fur, and 

 they are rapidly diminishing in number. 

 Last year there were fewer than ever 

 before. This year the natives caught 

 about one-half as many as last. In his 

 opinion the seals will soon be extermi- 

 nated, and in three years there will be no 

 more sealing. — (United States Case, p. 

 311.) 



I was asked [by United States Agent] 

 many questions, and said there were not 

 many seals in the Sound and along the 

 coast this year, but last year (1891) there 

 were plenty. Said the reason was that 

 this year white men had come in and 

 hunted them away with guns and made 



them wild Ee told me that 



the Indians formerly hunted the seals for 

 their food, but now they hunted them for 

 their skins. White man asked me how 

 long I thought it would be before there 

 would be no skins, and I said that would 

 be impossible; there would always be 

 lots of skins, but they would be harder 

 to get, because the seals were wilder. — 

 (British Counter-Case, Appendix, vol. ii, 

 p. 158.) 



156 



Charlie Hayuks. — As to hunting on coast: 



Certifies to truth of what Wackenu- 

 nesch said. — (United States Case, p. 312.) 



A year ago last spring .... we 

 took over 1,000 seals at Barclay Sound 

 from the shore. None of us Indians 

 think the seals are any fewer. — (British 

 Counter-Case, Appendix, vol. ii, p. 146.) 



William Bendt. — ^As to decrease, protection, &c. : 



In Appendix to United States Case, 

 vol. ii, pp. 404, 405, testifies as to decrease 

 in number of seals, protection necessary, 



&.C. 



Have never been out seal-hunting 

 myself, and personally know nothiug 

 whatever about the loss through sinkage 

 of seals that are shot, nor have I any 

 knowledge personally as to whether the 

 seals are decreasing or where th(^y are 

 caught. — (British Counter-Case, vol. ii, p. 

 186.) 



William Hermann. — As to loss hunting; 



One seal secured to two lost. — (United 

 States Case, Appendix, vol. ii, p. 445.) 



B S, PT X 9 



I would not lo^e more than 6 seals in 

 100 that I would hit. — (British Counter- 

 Case, Api^endix, vol. ii, p. 118.) 



