422 LETTERS OF NATURALISTS. 



gelesen. Icli bin allerdings weit davon eiitfenit, aiir selbst eiu com- 

 petentes Uitheil in dieser Sacbe zuzuschreiben. ISTacb AHein abei*, was 

 80 klar uud eiuleuchtend von Ihnen zusanimengestellt ist, will es niir 

 scbeinen, dass die von Ihnen vorgeschlagenen Maassregeln, dem dro- 

 benden Uutergange dc.5 Northern Fnr iSeal vorznbeugen, die e'mzig 

 richtifien und Er/olgversprecJtendcn sind. Icb bedauere sehr, dass aus 

 praetiscben Griinden wohl iiicht daran zu denken seiu wird, dass der 

 Kobbenschlag fiir einige Jabre ganz sistirt werde ! das wiirde nocb 

 wirksanier sein, dera scbwer bedrohten Thiere nnmeriscb aufznbelfen. 

 Jedenfcills ist bier Gefahr im Verzugeund man kann nicbt starJv geniig 

 betonen, dass docb die von Ihnen so wirksam inotivirten Vorschliige 

 baldmogbcbst znr Ansfiibruug gelangen mocbten. 



Mit bestem Dank fiir das nieiner Begntacbtuug gescbenkte Ver- 

 traueii. zeicbne icb, geebrter Herr, 

 Ibr gauz ergebener, 



G. Haktlaub, Dr. 



fTrauslation.] 



Bremen, April 23, 1892. 

 Mr. C. Hart Mbrriam: 



Dear Sir: Your excellent report on the Northern fur seal I have 

 read and reread with intense interest. 



I am far from attributing to myself a competent judgment regarding 

 tbis matter, but considering all facts wiiicb you have so clearly and 

 convincingly combined and expressed, it seems to me that the measures 

 you propose in order to prohibit the threatening decay of the northern 

 fur seal are the only correct ones promising an effective result. 



I sincerely regret that for practical reasons it can not be tbougbt of 

 to prohibit fur-seal bunting for a few years entirely, as tbis would nat- 

 ui'ally assist numerically the menaced animal. 



There is at any rate danger in view, and it can not be too strongly 

 emphasized that your so well founded proposals should be executed at 

 the earliest time possible. 



With sincere thanks for the confidence you have i^laced in my judg- 

 ment, 



I am, dear sir, your most obedient, 



G. IIartlaub, Dr. 



Reply of Professor Count Tommaso Salvadori, of the JHuseo Zoologico, Turin, Italy. 



Zoological Museum, Turin, April 25, 1892. 

 C. Hart Merriam, 



U. 8. Department of Agriculture^ 



Division of Ornithology, Washington, D. C: 

 Dear Sir: I bave received your letter concei.. jg the Northern fur 

 seal, on the condition of whicli you bave been selected as naturalist to 

 investigate and report by the Government of the United States. 



As a Avhole I agree with you as to the facts and conclusions drawn 

 OT your re])()rt, although the increasing number of seal skins actually 

 secured and sold, as a result of ])elagic sealing, shown in your table, 

 does not sufficiently ])roove, in my mind, that we are already in tbe 

 period of a decided diminution of the number of living seals. Still, I 



