REPORT OF BRITISH COMMISSIONERS. 179 



701. The fiicts above cited aftbid a connected train of evidence, show- 

 ing- tlie gradual reduction and deterioration in condition of seal-life upon 

 the Pribyloff Islands, altogether ai)art from the estimates of the total 

 number of seals made at various times, and as we believe of a more 

 trustworthy character than these. 



702. As to the comparative conditions in the years 1890 or 1801 with 

 that of the early years of the United States' control of the islands, no 

 accurate information can be given. The result of our investigations and 

 study of the subject in all its bearings leads us, however, to l)elieve that 

 the aggregate numbers given for these earlier years have been greatly 

 in excess of the facts, and that while the latest esti unites published nniy 

 not be too snuxll, the total amount of shrinkage has beeli very greatly 

 exaggerated by means of comparisons instituted Ixitween these and the 

 excessive estimates of earlier times. Because of this want of trust- 

 worthiness in the tirst estimates, therefore, any present estinuites of a 

 general character, however carefully made, and though interesting in 

 themselves, cannot be accepted as criteria of value in relation to the 

 question of the actual amount of decrease. 



703. The ease with which lictitions reports juay be built up on imper- 

 fect or ill-considered ex jxo'te evidence is illustrated by a remark made 



by Elliott, who writes: "I noticed in this connection a very queer 

 llil similarity between the sealers on St. Paul and our farmers at 



home; they, just as the season opens, invariably ])roi)hesy a bad 

 year for seals and a, scant sui)[)ly; then, when the season closes, they 

 will gravely tell you tluit there never were so many seals on the island 

 before. I was greeted in this manner by the agents of the Comjmny 

 and the Government in 187-J, again in 1873, and again in 1874. 1 did 

 not get up to the grounds in 1870 soon enough to hear the usual spring 

 crooking of disaster; but arrived, however, in time to hear the regular 

 cry of, 'Never was so many seals here before!'"* 



(D.) — Brivinij of ^eals. 



704. One of the most inqjortant points connected Avitli the method of 

 taking fur-seals on the Pribyloff Islands, is that of the driving from the 

 various hauling grouiuls to the killing grounds. However safeguarded 

 or regulated, the method of driving fur-seals overland for considerable 

 distances nuist beboth a cruel and destructive one. Active and graceful 

 as a lish in the water, the fur-seal is at best clumsy and awkward in its 

 movements on land, and though it is surprising to note at how good a 

 l)ace it can, when forced to do so, travel among the rocks or over the 

 sand, it is also quite evident that this is done at the expense only of 

 great effort and much vital activity, as well as at serious risk of physical 

 in juiy, A short shuflling run is succeededby a period of rest, and when 

 undisturbed, all movements on shore are carried out with the upmost 

 deliberation and fre(|uent stoppages. But when a herd of sealf?f half 

 crazed with fright, is driven for a distance of a mile or more from the 

 hauling ground to some killing place, already pestilential with the 

 decaying carcasses of seals x»i'eviously killed, it unavoidably, and how- 

 ever frequently theanimals may beallowed to rest, entailsmuch suffering. 

 When the weather is at all warm, or when the seals are pressed in 

 driving, individuals frequently droj) out and die of exhaustion, others 

 again are smothered by the crowding together of the frightened herd, 

 and it is not infre(]uent to find some severely wounded by bites ruth- 

 lessly inllicted by their conq)ainious when iu a high state of nervous 



* Uuitod States Cousus liex)ort, p. 1G5. 



