288 ARGUMENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 



no dispute as to these estimates (The Cyclopedia also states that soon 

 after the landing the female gives birth to one pup, weighing about 

 6 pounds). 



The real conflict between the report of the British Commissioners and 

 the Case of the United States seems to be as to the number of cows in a 

 harem. The British Commissioners assert that the number is unduly 

 large of cows served by one bull ; the United Statestproduce credible and 

 experienced witnessess to show that, on the contrary, the number of 

 females is decreasing. A comparison is invited between the two state- 

 ments and the quality of proof adduced in favor of each. It is plain that 

 the British Commissioners could not admit the diminution in number of 

 female seals without admitting that decrease to be wholly due to pe- 

 lagic slaughter. They are therefore reduced to the necessity of insist- 

 ing that there is a redundancy of females and a deficit of males on tlie 

 Islands. They are kind enough to admit, however, that " the sparing of 

 females, in a degree, prevented, for the time being, the actual depletion 

 of seals on the islands " (Sec. 58). It is not probable that any reasonable 

 person will take issue with them on that point. The intelligence and 

 legislation of the civilized world, not to speak of humanity in its broad 

 sense, have concurred that to spare the female was, not the best, but 

 the only effective method of preventing depletion and eventual exter- 

 mination. 



Even if we should concede, for the sake of the argument and in direct 

 disregard of the fact, that the diminution is due to the smaller number 

 of males, we would venture to remind this High Tribunal, if such a 

 reminder were needed, that the pirates or poachers who pursue and 

 slaughter the pregnant and nursing females are killing, by starvation 

 in the one case, by the mother's death in the other, a large number of 

 males. Even, according to their own showing, the British Commission- 

 ers must realize that pelagic sealing is responsible, to some extent at least, 

 for the decrease in the number of males, as well as of females. They may 

 speak of this "industry," as they term it, and glorify it as requiring all 

 the courage and skill which can be brought to bear on it (whatever that 

 may mean). (Sec. C09.) They may contrast its "sportsmanlike" char- 

 acter with the "butchery" committed on the islands (Sec. 610); but they 

 can not fail to perceive that the mode of destruction which principally 

 deals with gravid females, necessarily strikes at the very foundation 

 of life and must eventually extinguish the race, because, as they mildly 

 state it, it is unduly destructive (Sec. 033). 



