316 REPORT OF BRITISH COMMISSIONERS. 



Victoria, B. C, Fehrnary 8, 1892. 



Caleb McDougall, master of the schooner "Pioneer," of Victoria, British Colum- 

 bia, personally appeared, and being duly sworn, doth depose and say: 



That this is the third year that he has been engaged in hunting seals in the North- 

 ern Pacific Ocean and Behring Sea. 



That he has had every opportunity of watching every peculiarity of seal-hunting. 



That it is his opinion, from actual observation, that the number of seals lost, as 

 compared with those hit in pelagic sealing, is about one in hfty, that is, one seal is 

 lost to fifty caught. 



That the loss of seals is by sinking. 



That the greater number of seals are killed while sleeping. 



That seals travel in groups, that is, groups of males and groups of females, also 

 of grey or yearling pups. 



That in Behring Sea during the year 1890 in one place the hunters would bring 

 110, and 120, and 130 each day, all males and no females, that is, in that one place, 

 and the greater number of hie catch (1890) were male seals, that is, his vessel had 

 1,100 in Behring Sea, of which 800 were males and the rest females. 



That there is no doubt but that the old bull seals drive the younger males away 

 from the islands, and that is the reason why he considers that more males are caught 

 than females in Behring Sea. 



Tliat the proportion of barren cows is about one in ten to the bearing cows, that 

 is, there is one barren and ten bearing in Beliring Sea. 



That since ho has been engaged in sealing he thinks the seals are increasing, and 

 that he found the seals in Behring Sea thicker last year than he ever found them. 



That it depends entirely upon what portion of the Sea that the vessel is in and 

 striking a band of males or females, but with all vessels in Behring Sea the catch is 

 always more males than females. 



That he does nut know of auy single instance of a British sealing-vessel raiding 

 the seal islands in Behring Sea, and he is quite sure that no British vessel in any case 

 attempted to raid the seal islands. If they had, he would have heard of it. 



(Signed) C. McDougall. 



Sworn before me, this 8th day of February, 1892. 



(Signed) A. R. Milne, Collector of Customs. 



Victoria, B. C, February 1, 1892. 



1. Q. Captain William O'Leary, how many years have you been sealing? — A. This 

 is my sixth year. 



2. Q. You have been generally successful ? — A. Yes. 



3. Q. You have had all opportunities of watching every peculiarity of seal-hunt- 

 ing? — A. Yes. 



4. Q. What is your opinion of the proportion of seals lost as comx)ared with those 

 hit in pelagic sealing? — A. My opinion is that only 3 to 5 per cent, are lost. 



6. Q. Do you mean those who are lost by sinking? — A. Yes. 



6. Q. Are there any lost in any other way? — A. Yes; by escaping. 



7. Q. What is your opinion of the proijortiou of females to males taken during the 

 season on the coast ? — A. My experience on the coast has been that the females and 

 males are about equal, and of the females there are an equal number of barren cows 



and bearing cows. 

 239 8. Q. Whatis your opinion about the proportion of bearing cows? — A. About 



half and half, that is, half barren and half bearing cows. 



9. Q. In Behring Sea is your catch chiefly male seals? — A. Yes; about three to 

 one ; that is, three males to one female. 



10. Q. Captain O'Leary, what is your opinion about the increase or decrease of 

 seals? — A. I think the seals were as plentiful last season as I have ever seen them. 



11. Q. Captain O'Leary, being one of the oldest sealing captains, do you know of 

 any single instance of a British sealing-vessel raiding the seal islands? — A. I have 

 never heard of one, nor do I believe that auy British vessel raided or attempted to 

 raid the seal islands ; I would have heard it if such had been attempted, 



(Signed) William O'Leary. 



Sworn before me, this Ist February, 1892. 



(Signed) A. R. Milne, Collector of Customs. 



