PROPERTY IN THE ALASKAN SEAL HERD. 79 



We make no apology for ado pting these statements of the United States 

 Commissioners in their own language. The facts could hardly be more 

 precisely expressed, and it is believed that every part of the statement 

 will be accepted by the Tribunal as true. There is, indeed, but little to 

 be found even in the report of the Commissioners of Great Britain in 

 the way of direct contradiction. In order, however, that the Arbitrators 

 may be facilitated in the verification of any facts as to which they 

 may be in doubt, a brief discussion of the facts as to which any ques- 

 tion has been made in the Report of the British Commissioners will be 

 found in Part Sixth of this Argument (pp. 228-313). 



There are certain material propositions of fact which are not wholly 

 embraced in the above above quoted extract from the Report of the Com- 

 missioners of the United States, although they are substantially 

 contained therein, which deserve formal and separate statement. 



First. In addition to the climatic and physical conditions above 

 enumerated as necessary to render any place suitable for a breeding 

 ground for the seals, exemption from hostile attack or molestation 

 by man, or other terrestrial enemies, should be included. The defence- 

 less condition of these animals upon the land renders this security 

 indispensable. If no terrestrial spot could be found possessing the 

 favorable climatic and physical requirements above mentioned, and 

 which was not at the same time exempt from the unregulated and indis- 

 criminate hostility of man, the race would speedily pass away. 



Second. The mere presence of man upon the breeding places does not 

 repel the seals, nor operate unfavorably upon the work of reproduction. 

 On the contrary, presence and the protection which he alone is 

 capable of affording, by keeping off marauders, are absolutely necessary 

 to the preservation of the sxiecies in any considerable numbers. 



Third. If man invites the seals to come upon their chosen resorts, 

 abstains from slaughtering them as they arrive, and cherishes the 

 breeding animals during their sojourn, they will as confidingly submit 

 themselves to his power as domestic animals are wont to do. It then 

 becomes entirely practicable to select and separate from the herd for 

 slaughter such a number of nonbreeding animals as may be safely 

 taken without encroaching upon the permanent stock. 



