310 REPORT OF BRITISH COMMISSIONERS. 



84. Q. Is there any way you can account for that? — A. None wliatever, unless it 

 is the same as with any species of tish ; some years you get more than others. There 

 is no accounting for it. 



85. Q. Referring to the number of females caught in the spring, there are quite a 

 number of the female seals barren, or have never borne young? You have noticed 

 it? — A. Yes; some are barren that have had young, and others that have not borne. 



86. Q. When you speak of the proportion of females killed, you mean the barren 

 cows as well as those that are bearing young?— A. Yes. 



87. Q. Have you formed any idea of the general average or percentage of females 

 carrying young killed in April and May? — A. I could not form any idea. 



88. Q. Nor of barren cows? — A. No, Sir. 



89. Q. Would you hazard a statement that all the females, both bearing and barren 

 cows, were certainly less than the male seals taken? — A. Yes; certainly less in 

 number. 



90. Q. If any one were to make the bold statement that for every male seal killed 

 there is a female killed, would it be correct.'^ — A. That would not l)e correct. 



91. Q. You have not heard any estimate of the percentage of barren females as 

 compared with the bearing cows killed? — A. There are less of the barren cows killed 

 in the spring than there are in the fall. I don't think that they go as far south as 

 the cows that bear young. 



92. Q. You say that in Behring Sea the males preponderate? — A. Yes. 



93. Q. Y'ou cannot account for this, you say, except it be that the females are all 

 ashore bearing young? — A. The males we get in the sea are all 3- or 4-year-olds, 

 which the old wigs would not let ashore at all. 



94. Q. Are there any " rooki^ries" along the coast of any extent? — A. I have never 

 heard of one this side of the Shumagin Ishmds. 



95. Q. Year after year, hunting, then, do you find them travelling along the same 

 course? — A. Yes, where their food is, from 15 to 35 miles out. 



96. Q. Your opinion is that the percentage of loss as compared with those hit 

 would not exceed 10 per cent, with Indian hunters? — A. How do you mean lost? 



97. Q. You say a seal hit and not killed is not lost if it escapes ? — A. Y'es. 



98. Q. Then the proportion of loss in proportion to those killed is about how 

 much — 10 per cent. ? — A. It does not exceed that. 



99. Q. In the number killed during the different months of the season, what is 

 the proportion of males to females? — A. Three males to two females. 



100. Q. As to the abstention of Canadian sealers from raiding the seal islands, you 

 are quite positive that from your knowledge of sealing-vessel owners and masters, 

 you give it as your direct opinion that no Canadian sealers ever raided those islands. 

 Y'ou would say so upon oath in Court? — A. They never did to my knowledge. 



101. Q. If such a thing had been attempted, it would, as a matter of fact, have 

 leaked out? — A. Yes; it stands to reason the crews would have been unable to keep 

 it to themselves. 



102. Q. They would tell it either to their associates on board or after getting 

 ashore? — A. They could not keep it. 



103. Q. After the hunters get aboard at night, they usually recount whether they 

 lost any seals, and in speaking of their loss it would mean those seals that would 

 sink, not those that escape? — A. If they lost any, they would not tell it at all, but 

 if they sunk any, they would speak of it. 



104. Q. You are at present a ship-owner, Captain Laing? — A. Yes. 



105. Q. You have had great opportunities of hearing from all sources matter rela- 

 tive to the seal fishing? — A. Yes. 



106. Q. Has it been noticed that the skins taken last year in the Behring Sea were 

 smaller than usual? — A. About the same general size. 



107. Q. Is it generally known that the seals caught on the Copper Island are better 

 than the average? — A. I have never seen them, but it is repoi'ted they are better. 



108. Q. It is reported also that seals caught in .January, March, and April are better 

 than any in Behring Sea; they say the fur is better? — A. They say so, but I don't 

 know that you can see any dift'erence. 



109. Q. It has been said that the fur of the seals caught during the winter and 

 spring months is light ? The fur of all animals in cold climates is thicker in winter ? — 



A. I have never noticed that with seals. 

 234 110. Q. A few years ago it was said that the Behring Sea skins were the 



best? — A. It has been so reported, but I don't think there is any difference. 



111. Q. The "grey pup" of this year will be a "brown pup" next year? — A. Yes; 

 a "2-year-old" or " brown puj)." 



112. Q. Do the hunters usually follow the grey pups with the same zeal as they do 

 the other seals? — A. They can't tell the difference till thev are actually "on top of 

 them." 



113. Q. And they are apt to shoot little as well as big? — A. Yes; everything they 

 come across. 



