CAUSE. 183 



matter,^ as also many other sealers clo.^ Otliers wiiite sejiiers. 

 less intimately acquainted with the business of 

 open-sea sealing-, but from experience and knowl- 

 edge of seal life qualified to judge as to the cause 

 of decrease unite in casting the entire blame 

 ujoon the pelagic sealing industry.^ Agent Goff, 

 in speaking of pelagic sealing, says: ''If con- 

 tinued as it is to-day, even if killing on the islands 

 was absolutely forbidden, the herd will in a few 

 years be exterminated."* This unanimity of 

 opinion, as expressed by every class and condi- 

 tion of witnesses, scientists, sealers, both Indian 

 and white, those who have watched the seals 

 upon the islands and those who have seen the 

 animals during their migration up the coast, is 

 further supported b}^ the statistics of the sealing 

 fleet, its catch and number, as compared with the 

 years when no increase was observable on the 

 islands and when decrease was noted. 



The period of so-called stag-nation in the num- increase of seal- 



'- ° ing fleet. 



ber of the seal herd has been shown to be from 

 1880 to 1884-'85.^ According to the table of 

 the sealing fleet, prepared from all available 



> Vol. II, p. 458. 



2E. p. Porter, Vol.11, p. 347; James E. Leunaii, Vol. II, p. 370; 

 MicliaelWlute, Vol.11, pp. 490, 491; J. D. McDouakl, Vol. II, pp. 266, 

 267. 



3 Joseph Murray, Vol. II, p. 74; H. H. Mclntyre, Vol. II, p. 46; 

 Cliarles J. Goff, Vol. II, p. 112 ; J. Stanley Brown, Vol. II, pp. 17, 18, 

 19, 20. 



* Vol. II, p. 113. 



' Ante, p. 165. 



