SUMMARY OF THE EVIDENCE. 253 



in the Eeport of the British Commissioners, it may be interesting to 

 cite some of the proof in support of this assertion. 



(a) The islands are in every particular adapted by climate and con- 

 ditions to the purpose. While it is suggested, as we have seen above, 

 by the British Commissioners, that the seals would find no difficulty in 

 procuring another suitable place for breeding and for passing the sum- 

 mer months, this is manifestly a conjecture and need not be dwelt upon. 



(&) There is no evidence that the animal has ever resorted to other 

 places, but all the evidence before this High Tribunal of Arbitration 

 leads to the inference above stated. 



The language of the Case on the part of the United States is as fol- 

 lows (p. 89) : 



The climatic conditions are especially favorable. The seal, while on 

 laud, needs a cool, moist, and cloudy climate, sunshine and warmth 

 producing a very injurious effect upon the animals. These requisite 

 phenomena are found at the Pribilof Islands and nowhere else in Ber- 

 ing Sea or the North Pacific, save at the Commander (Komandorski) 

 Islands. 



This is abundantly sustaiued by the proof. See upon this point 

 the testimony of Charles Bryant (Appendix to Case of the United 

 States, "Vol. II, p. 4), Capt. Bryant having been long engaged in whaling 

 and having acted as Special Treasury Agent at the Pribilof Islands. 

 Also Samuel Falconer (ibid., p. 1G4). Mr. Falconer had had long 

 experience as Treasury Agent on the islands, and otherwise, and is a 

 fully competent witness upon this point. He assigns the reason for the 

 selection of this breeding locality by the seals in the following lan- 

 guage: 



The reason the seals have chosen these islands for their home is be- 

 cause the Pribilof group lies in a belt of fog, occasioned by the waters 

 ot the Arctic Ocean coining down from the north and the warmer waters 

 of the Pacific flowing north and meeting at about this point in Bering 

 Sea. It is necessary that the seals should have a misty or foggy 

 atmosphere of this kind while on land, as suushine has a very injurious 

 effect upon them. Then, too, the islands are so isolated that the seal, 

 which is a very timid animal, remains here undisturbed, as every pre- 

 caution is taken not to disturb the animals while they are on the rook- 

 eries. The mean temperature of the islands is during the winter about 

 26° F., and in summer about 43°. I know of no other locality which 

 possesses these peculiarities of moisture and temperature. The grounds 

 occupied by the seals for breeding purposes are along the coast, ex- 

 tending from high-water mark back to the cliffs, which abound on Saint 

 George Island. The young males or bachelors, not being allowed to 

 laud on these breeding places, lie back of and around these breeding 

 grounds on areas designated hauling grounds. 



