PELAGIC SEALING THE SOLE CAUSE — OPINIONS. 325 



If they keep on hunting them in the Bering Sea and the North Pa- 

 cific in the same way they have done in the last 

 few years, they will exterminate tliem in the same Caleb Lindahl,p. 456. 

 way, because most all the seals killed are females. 



The young ones will all die, and every female seal you shoot makes the 

 killing of two, because after the seal has given birth to her young the 

 pup will starve to death on the land, or when you shoot them in the 

 water they may have a pup inside. 



I have observed a very great decrease in fur-seal life since 1885, and 

 believe it is almost entirely due to the large mini- „ m t . jj7 . T 

 ber of vessels engaged in pelagic hunting. K w - ^ l ^n, P . 457. 



The seals are much less plentiful the last year I sealed tlian the first. 

 I attribute this decrease to the hunting of them in 

 the water, and the increased number of boats and Wm. R. Long, p. 458. 

 men engaged in the business in the last few years. 



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

 to previous years'? — A. There has been a decrease. 



Q. To what do you attribute the decrease ? — A. chas. Lutjens, p. 459. 

 To the hunting of the seals in the Bering Sea. 



There can be but one reason for the decrease, 

 and that is they are hunted too much in the open j. d. McDonald, p. 266. 

 waters. 



There were not as many seals in 1890 as there were in 18S9. I think 

 there are so many boats and hunters out after 

 them that they are being killed off. They are Wm. Mdsaac, p. 461. 

 hunted too much. 



Seals are not as plentiful on the coast as formerly. Have noticed the 

 decrease in the last three years; caused, I think, 

 by the indiscriminate killing of female seal. Jas ' McKeen > P- 267 - 



I was also cod fishing in 1884. There were a great many more seals 

 in the water then than there was in 1889. In 1884, 

 when we were cod fishing, we met the steam 46 !T m ' McLau 9 hhn > P- 

 whaler Thrasher, and I heard the captain remark 

 that it was a damned shame the way they were killing the female seals 

 in the Bering Sea. 



Q. To what do you attribute this decrease? — A. I think this is on 

 account of killing those female seals when they 



have pups, and the business is getting so that so ^ lexandtT McLean, p. 

 many vessels are going into it, and they are kill- 

 ing those pups off. A seal has not got a chance to go to work and in- 

 crease. 



Q. The mother seals? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Have you noticed any decrease in the quantity of animals in the 

 last few years ? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. To what do you attribute the cause? — A. Danl. McLean, p. 444. 

 Killing off the females. 



