58G LOSS IF HERD DESTROYED. 



That the trade has every interest to bring about a regular production ; 

 that is to say, the production to be approximately 

 Emln Hertz, j>. 590. always the same, as this would obviate the fre- 

 quent change in price and render business less 

 speculative. 



The business of dealing in fur-seal skins has of late entered into a 

 speculative stage, which is doing it much injury. 

 Arthur Hirsehel, p. 583. The trade can no longer know with certainty 

 when and in what quantities seal skins will be 

 placed upon the market. To remedy this I am of the opinion that here- 

 after skins should be taken only from animals of the male sex and upon 

 lutd, under Government regulations such as have heretofore existed. 



That one of the most important, and deponent feels justified in say- 

 ing, vital elements in the maintenance and pres- 

 Sir G. c. Lampson, p. ervatioii of the business or industry is that the 

 supply of fur-seal skins should be regular and 

 constant, so that intending buyers may be able to know beforehand ap- 

 proximately what the prices of their stock in trade are going to be, and 

 that the people engaged in the business may have beforehand a rea- 

 sonably definite notion of what they shall be able to count upon. 



Deponent knows, of his own knowledge and from conversations with 

 the merchants and dealers above mentioned, that 

 _ Walter E. Martin, p. it is a matter of vital importance to the continu- 

 ance of the fur-seal industry and the industries re- 

 sulting therefrom and dependent thereon that the supply of fur-seal 

 skins should be constant; that is, that the number of skins coining 

 upon the market in each year should be known the year beforehand 

 with approximate certainty, and that it should not vary greatly from 

 year to year. That this is necessary in order that prices may be fixed 

 and that those persons or firms who physically deal with the skins, 

 such as deponent's firm, should know what provision they must make 

 for the business of the ensuing season. That down to within a few 

 years last past, three or five years, the supply has been regular, but 

 that during the last three or five years, and notably during the last two 

 years, the supply has fluctuated very largely and continually dimin- 

 ished, and in consequence thereof business has greatly suffered. 



Deponent further says that the continuance of this business depends 

 very largely upon the maintenance of a steady 

 Emil Teichmann, p. 582. and regular supply of fur-seal skins in order that 

 the trade may be able to calculate, with approx- 

 imate certainty, the number of skins which are to be received in each 

 year. 



Besides, skins are being now put on the market at such irregular 

 times and in such uneven quantities that buying 

 Geo. R. Treadwell, p. them hag become a speculative business. I be- 

 lieve that the whole trouble has been brought 

 about by the Victoria and other pelagic sealers, who furnish the present 

 cheap skins. 



