INVESTMENTS. 281 



3,oG0/ wliicli is over three times as many as Employes in 



C a, n a (1 a and 



were engaged in the Victoria seahng industry in United states. 

 1891, according to the Canadian officials, and 

 five times as many as were so engaged in 1890. 



The receipts of France from lier sealskin in- Contrast he- 



^ tween Frencli and 



dustry has been shown to be over $300,000 c=inadiaB invest- 



■^ ' nients. 



(1,500,000 francs), which is at least G6 per cent 

 of the gross receipts of Canada from pelagic 

 sealing in a year when the prices of Northwest 

 skins were abnormal. Under natural conditions, 

 as in 1888 or 1890, the French receipts from her 

 industry would more than equal the gross re- 

 ceipts of Canada from the sealing fleet's catch. 

 The number of men also employed in France is 

 about the same in number as those employed in 

 pelagic sealing in Canada in 1890. 



The number of persons engaged in the hand-^^.^-^^^^^/^J^^^ ^.]J 

 ling and manufacture of sealskins in the United "^^'^^ cnntries. 

 States, England, and France is, therefore, about 

 6,400, or over nine times as many as are reported 

 to have been engaged in pelagic sealing in 1890 

 in Canada, and about six and a half times as 

 many as were so engaged in 1891. 



It is very questionable, however, whether there Canadian in vost- 



"^ meut questiona- 



is any real investment in Canada in pelagic seal- ^^®- 

 ing. The vessels are all common A^essels, the 

 guns common guns, and the boats common 



1 statement of furriers, Vol. II, p. 586. 

 2716 3G 



