PROPERTY IN THE ALASKAN SEAL HERD. 67 



leads to a prodigiously increased production of the fruits of the earth. 



There are some provisions to this end which are beyond the power 

 of private men to supply, or for supplying which no sufficient induce- 

 ment can be held out to them, inasmuch as the rewards can not be 

 secured to them exclusively; and here the self-interest of nations sup- 

 plements and cooperates with that of individuals. A large share of 

 the legislative policy of civilized states is devoted to making provision 

 for future generations. Taxation is sought to be limited to the annual 

 income of society. Permanent institutions of science are established 

 for the purpose of acquiring a fuller knowledge of natural laws, to the 

 end that waste may be restricted, the earth be made more fruitful, and 

 the stock of useful animals increased. The destruction of useful wild 

 animals is sought to be prevented by game laws, and the attempt is 

 even made to restock the limitless areas of the seas with animal life 

 which may be made subservient to man. 



The same policy is observable in the ordinary municipal law of states. 

 Whenever the possessor of property is incapable of good husbandry, 

 and therefore liable to waste or misapply that part of the wealth of so- 

 ciety which is confided to him, he is removed from the custody, and a 

 more prudent guardian substituted in his place. Infants, idiots, and 

 insane persons are deprived of the control of their property, and the 

 state assumes the guardianship. This policy is adopted not merely out 

 of regard to the private interests of the present owner, but in order also 

 to promote the permanent objects of society by protecting the interests 

 of future generations . 



There are some exceptions, rather apparent than real, to the law 

 which confines each generation to the increase or usufruct of the 

 earth. ^Nature holds in some of her storehouses the slow accumula- 

 tions of long preceding ages, which can not be reproduced by the 

 agency of man. The products of the mineral kingdom, when con- 

 sumed, can not be restored by cultivation. But here the operation of 

 the institution of private property is still effective, by exacting the 

 highest price, to limit the actual consumption to the smallest extent 

 consistent with a beneficial use. Again, it is not possible to limit the 

 consumption of useful wild birds to the annual increase; for they can 

 not be made the subjects of exclusive appropriation as property, and 

 consequently can not be increased in numbers by the care and absti- 

 nence of individual man. The motive of self-interest can not here be 

 brought into play. But society still makes the only preservative effort 



