494 ALASKAN HERD. 



Having read with eager arid critical attention the memoir you have 

 addressed to me upon the condition of the fur- 



Dr. Leopold von seal rookeries on the Pribilof Islands in Bering 

 Schrenck, Vol. i,p. 423. g ea ^ ^] ie cauS es of decrease and the measures nec- 

 essary for the restoration and permanent preser- 

 vation of the seal herd, I can not but completely agree with you in con- 

 sidering the conclusions and recommendations you arrived at quite 

 justified and necessitated by the facts. I am also persuaded that the 

 pelagic sealing, if pursued in the same manner in future, will neces- 

 sarily end with the extermination of the fur-seal. 



Opinions of London Furriers. 



Page 243 of The Case. 



And deponent further says that, in his judgment, if this pelagic seal- 

 ing be not prohibited, it is a question of but a few 

 Alfred Fraser, p. 558. years, probably not more than three, when the in- 

 dustry will cease, by reason of the extermination 

 of the seals in the same way in which they have been exterminated on 

 the South Sea islands by reason of no restrictions being imposed 

 upon their killing. 



Deponent has no doubt but that it is necessary in order to maintain 

 the industry that steps should be taken to pre- 

 560."' Lam l ,s ""> P- serve the existence of the seal herd in the North 



Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea from the fate which 

 has overtaken the herds in the South Seas. Of the steps, if any, which 

 are necessary, in order to accomplish this result, deponent does not 

 feel that he is in a position to state, as he has no personal knowledge 

 of the regulations which at the present time exist, but it is obvious to 

 deponent's mind that regulations of some kind, imposed by somebody 

 who has authority and power to enforce them, are necessary to prevent 

 the rookeries in the North Pacific Ocean from suffering the fate, of the 

 rookeries in the Southern Atlantic and Pacific seas, where, deponent 

 is informed, no restrictions were at ojay time even attempted to be im- 

 posed. 



Deponent says that the preservation of the seal herds found in the 

 Northern Pacific region is necessary to the con- 



Walier Martin, p. 570. tinuance of the fur-seal business, as those herds 

 are the principal sources of supply of seal skins 

 left in the world; and, from his general knowledge of the customs of 

 that business, deponent feels justified in expressing the opinion that 

 stringent regulations of some kind are necessary in order to prevent 

 those herds from disappearing like the herds which formerly existed in 

 large numbers off the South Pacific seas. Specifically what regulations 

 are necessary deponent does not feel himself in a position to state. 



That the maintenance of this business necessarily depends upon the 

 preservation of the seal herds frequenting the 

 Henry Poland, p. 571. northern Pacific regions from being overtaken by 

 the destruction which was the fate of the seals 

 formerly found in large quautities in the South Atlantic and South Pa- 

 cific oceans. 



