SUMMARY OF THE EVIDENCE. 249 



iner [a purely gratuitous assumption], the migration routes of the two 

 sides of the North Pacific are essentially distinct." (See also Sees. 

 170, 198, 21G, 220.) 



Without any evidence, then, on the side of the United States, it 

 might be asserted, on the Eeport of the British Commissioners alone, 

 that any intermingling of the two herds is abnormal and exceptional, 

 although these geutlemen are inclined to think that in the remote 

 future this separation may disappear. 



(C) THE ALASKAN FUR-SEALS HAVE BUT ONE HOME, NAMELY, THE 

 PRIBILOF ISLANDS. THEY NEVER LEAVE THIS HOME WITHOUT 

 THE ANIMUM REVERTENDI, AND ARE NEVER SEEN ASHORE EXCEPT 

 ON THOSE ISLANDS. 



The testimony as to this fact is uncontradicted except by the curious 

 and utterly unsupported statement of the British Commissioners that 

 the animals actually enjoy and occupy two homes j that is, they have 

 a winter domicile, which is not given, except by a vague and general 

 designation (British Commissioners' Eeport, Sec. 27), and a summer 

 place of resort, which is the Pribilof Islands. There is no pretense that 

 they ever land elsewhere. The force of this original suggestion of a 

 double residence would be much increased if the slightest indication 

 were given to enable us to test the accuracy and to aid the Commis- 

 sioners in satisfying the world of scientists that a grave error has 

 heretofore been committed and continuously accepted. But as we are 

 endeavoring to treat the assertion as seriously and respectfully as 

 possible, we submit that in the face of absolute and uncontradicted 

 proof, corroborated by general scientific experience, we are not bound 

 to devote any considerable space to the demonstration that the fact 

 must be taken to be as we have stated it. 



In fairness to the Commissioners for Great Britain, it may be proper 

 to call attention to their own language, noting, however, the singular 

 process by which they make the migration of the seals commence at an 

 uncertain point in the Pacific to reach their well-established home and 

 place of nativity in the north. 



The absurdity chargeable upon the British Commissioners of thus 

 beginning at an uncertain point to reach a certain one is shown by 

 Capt. Scammon, who has been an officer in the United States Eeve- 

 nue-Marine Service since 18G3. Mr. Scammon is also the author of 

 the work entitled "The Marine Mammals of the Northwestern Coast 



