PELAGIC SEALING THE SOLE CAUSE OPINIONS. 323 



I attribute the decrease in numbers to their being hunted so much. 



My experience is that the seal herds in the North Pacific and Bering 

 Sea have been greatly depleted within the last few years by the con- 

 stant pursuit and killing of them in the water by hunters. 



In my opinion, seals and all other fur -bearing 

 animals are decreasing, and the cause is pelagic William Foster, p. 220. 

 hunting. 



Q. Has there been any decrease in the quantity of seals as compared 

 to previous years ? — A. I have not been on the 



islands in the last few yesrs, but I should imag- Luther T.Franklin, p. 426. 

 ine there has been a great decrease. 



Q. To what do you attribute the decrease? — A. To the number of 

 vessels that are up there engaged in killing seals, nearly all of which 

 are females. Last year there were 72 vessels fitted out from Victoria 

 alone, to say nothing of vessels that are fitted out at other places. 



The seals are not so numerous off Cape Flattery as they used to be 

 some years ago, and it is my opinion it is owing 

 to tbe constant hunting by so many schooners. ' I "' 



Q. Has there been any decrease in the quantity of seals as compared 

 to previous years? — A. There is a decrease of fidward W.Funvke,p. 

 about 20 or 30 per cent less. 428 - 



Q. To what do you attribute that decrease? — A. I attribute it to 

 them being overhunted. 



I am decidedly of the opinion that fur-seal life has considerably de- 

 creased of late years, and believe it is due princi- ^. J- Guild,p.232. 

 pally to pelagic sealing. 



While at anchor off St. Paul Island the pups playing about the ves- 

 sel were very few, and while making a passage 

 between Unalaska and the Pribiloff Islands, dur- Charles J. Hague, p. 208. 

 ing the breeding season, did not see a dozen in 



the open sea during the whole trip, where formerly I met hundreds. In 

 going from Unalaska to Atka and returning during the last of May 

 and the first part of Juue of this year (1802), I did not see a single fur- 

 seal in the water. I attribute this great decrease to the indiscriminate 

 slaughter of the species by pelagic sealers, and their wasteful methods 

 of securing skins. 



Q. To what do you attribute this decrease? — A. S. Harmsen,p. 442 

 Too many in the business, I suppose; too many 

 after them. 



Q. Would you attribute it to the killing of the females and thereby 

 there are not nearly as many born? — A. Certainly; it has got all to do 

 with it. 



Q. Then really the killing of the females you attribute to the de- 

 crease? — A. Yes, sir. 



I am decidedly of the opinion that the decrease in numbers of seals 

 in the North Pacific and Bering Sea is owing to 

 pelagic hunting, and that unless discontinued they J- M. Rays, p. 27. 

 will soon become so nearly extinct as to be worth- 

 less for commercial purposes. 



