PROPERTY IN THE ALASKAN SEAL HERD. 101 



the case of the lessees of the Pribilof Islands is the opposite of this. 

 They never can be even tempted to limit the supply. Nature herself 

 has limited it all too rigidly. A large profit is derivable from every 

 seal which prudence will permit to be taken. The temptation is to take 

 too largely. Abstinence, and not waste, is the true policy. Indeed, the 

 Report of the Commissioners of Great Britain makes it a principal 

 charge against the management of the lessees that they make drafts 

 upon the herds too large, instead of too small. Now, where the entire 

 product of a source of supply is thrown upon the market, the price will 

 be governed by the demand. The world will pay a certain amount for 

 it and no more; and the circumstance that there is a monopoly of the 

 commodity is unimportant. 1 



Divers charges are made in the Report of the British Commissioners 

 of neglect and mismanagement by the lessees of the islands in the 

 conduct of the business of caring for the seals and making the annual 

 drafts from the herds. These topics have but a small measure of rele- 

 vancy here. They are, with some unimportant exceptions, whollv de- 

 nied, and will be elsewhere in this argument shown to be erroneous. 

 But if it be intended by these charges to show that the prime object of 

 the law of nature to make the increase of animals available to man- 

 and at the same time to preserve the stock, is not most certainly gained 

 in the case of an animal like the seal by declaring a property interest 

 in those who have the power to secure it, some observations upon them 

 are pertinent here In this aspect these charges proceed upon the 

 assumption that a scheme of protection by care, industry, and select, 

 ive killing is necessary. If this be so, when and how can it be adopted 

 and maintained except through the recognition of a property interest? 

 It can not be questioned that this care and prudence are best secured 

 by bringing into play the motive of self-interest. How can this be 

 done except through the recognition of a property interest? What 

 other device has human society found in any stage of civilization in 

 any laud or in any age? What new substitute has the wisdom of these 

 Commissioners to suggest? Is it necessary to tell the breeder of sheep 

 that he must preserve his flocks and make his main drafts for the mar- 

 ket upon his superfluous males? It may be admitted that the United 

 States may sometimes fall into errors and neglects against their own 

 interest. They assert for themselves no infallibility; but they do insist 

 that there is no error and no neglect which they could as owners and 



'Mill. Pol. Econ., Book II, Chap. 5, $ 2. 



