372 ORAL ARGUMENT OF FREDERICK R. COUDERT, ESQ. 



tioularly in 1888, to content ourselves with smaller skins than we had heretofore 

 taken. This was in part cine to the necessity of turning back to the rookeries many 

 half-grown bulls, owing to the notable scarcity of breeding males. I should have 

 been glad to have ordered them killed instead, but under your instructions to see 

 that the best interests of the rookeries were conserved, thought best to reject them. 

 The result of killing from year to year a large and increasing number of small ani- 

 mals is very api)arent. We are simply drawing in advance upon the stock that 

 should be kept over for another year's growth. 



Then, in 1890, the quota was reduced to 20,000 and tlie new lease took 

 effect in this year. 



Sir Charles Kussell. — "1890" does not appear there at all. 



Senator Morgan. — Can you state exactly when the tirst modus vivendi 

 took effect. 



Mr. CouDERT.— 1891. 



Senator Morgan. — What time of 1891. 



Mr. CoUDEET. — I think it was in June — June 15th 1891. 



Senator Morgan. — It covered the hshing season of 1891. 



Mr. CouDERT. — Yes. 



Senator Morgan. — And the second one covered the fishing season 

 of 1892 and 1893 to October next. 



Mr. CouDERT. — Yes. 



Senator Morgan. — Now during- those two periods the take of the 

 United States was couiined to.7,500 seals. 



Mr. CouDERT. — Yes, a somewhat larger number was killed. 



Senator Morgan. — I remember. 



Mr. CouDEKT. — But it did not exceed 12,000. 



Senator Morgan. — The modus vivendi confined the take on the part 

 of tlie United States. 



Mr. CouDERT. — Yes. 



Senator Morgan. — Can you state how many seals were taken by the 

 l)e]agic hunters in 1891. 



Mr. CouDERT. — Yes, we have that to some extent. I am coming to 

 those figures in a moment, I will give them as nearly as we are able to 

 give til em. 



Senator Morgan.— For 1891 and 1892? 



Mr. CouDERT. — Yes. 



Senator Morgan. — I believe those figures run up to 60,000 or 70,000. 



Mr. CouDERT. — Yes, I was about to say there were 08,000 in 1891. 



Senator Morgan. — How many for 1892? 



Mr. CoUDERT. — We have not the figures : they are not compiled ; but 

 the figures, as given by the other side, of the pelagic sealers in 1891 

 amount to 08,000 seals. 



Senator Morgan. — That is to say, the pelagic hunters got 68,000 and 

 the United States 7,500. 



Mr. CouDERT. — Yes, a slightly larger number — about 5,000 more, 

 owing to the dates overla])ping. 



Senator Morgan. — Is tlie same state of affairs existing now — is there 

 any evidence on that subject? 



Mr. Colbert. — I do not think we have any evidence as to that. 



The President. — That is pelagic sealing outside? 



Senator Morgan. — Yes, the pelagic sealers got 08,000 and the United 

 States 7,.500. 



The President. — 'On account of the modns vivendi. 



Senator Morgan. — Yes, we were limited to 7,500 and the pelagic seal- 

 ers got 68,000. 



Mr, CnuDERT. — And the next year, as far as we can get at the figure, 

 it was 45,000, all outside the Behriug Sea. 



