ALASKAN HERD. 253 



industry in London, says "that, in his indo;ment, Absolute proin- 



■^ ... . . . hiWon of pelagic 



tlie absolute prohibition of pelagic sealing, i. e., seaiiug. 

 the killing of seals in the open sea, whether in the 

 North Pacific or the Bering Sea, is necessary to 

 the preservation of the seal herds now surviv- 

 ing." ^ Besides the statements given above, many 

 other witnesses express the same opinion.^ 



Those assertino^ the need of onlv a limited pro- ^.Linlitc«lpl•ollilJi- 

 '^ -^ ^ 1 1 o n o I p c 1 a g 1 o 



hibition are divided in their views as to the ^*^''^^^"«- 

 means necessary, some advocating a close season, 

 in which all killing of seals should be prohib- 

 ited, others that the use of firearms in taking 

 seals should be forbidden, others that the seal 

 herd should not be molested in the waters of 

 Bering Sea, and still others who believe that a 

 zone about the islands of from thirty to fifty 

 miles would be sufficient. 



The first of these propositions is supported by a close season. 

 a number of sealers, but the period of time in 

 which pelagic sealing should be prohibited varies- 

 Daniel Claussen advocates a close season from 

 July 1 to the last of October;^ Artlmr Griflhi, 

 from April to September 1, inclusive;* Joshua 



'Vol. II, p. 557. 



nV. C. Coulson, Vol. II, p. 416; T. F. Ryau, Vol. II, p. 175; J. II. 

 Moultou, Vol.11, p. 73; W. B. Taylor, Vol. II, p. 177; B. F. Scribiier, 

 Vol. II, p. 90; T. F. Morgan, Vol. II, p. 65; Gustavo Isaacson, Vol. 

 II, p. 440; J. A. Bradley, Vol. 11, p. 227; H. W. Mclutyre, Vol. II, p. 



];:■. 



» Vol. II, p. 412. 

 «Vol. II, p. 326. 



