80 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



The foregoing quotations are from the affidavits and reports of men 

 who, through years of experience, gained a practical knowledge of fur- 

 seal life in all its details, and who therefore know of what they speak 

 beyond the possibility of successful contradiction. 



It may be urged by our opponents that the testimony is that of men 

 who are neither learned nor scientific, and who, being employed by 

 either the Government or the lessees, had private and personal interests 

 to subserve. 



For the purpose of meeting such objections, and to show how the 

 practical and scientific are agreed in this matter, I will here introduce a 

 paper written by a well-known naturalist, who has had many years 

 practical experience among the fur seals on the Commander Islands, 

 and who has not now, nor ever had, any interest in the Pribilof Islands 

 or the Alaskan seal herd. 



His testimony is therefore the more valuable, and it will be found 

 that it confirms my position in every particular: 



DEPOSITION OF NICHOLAS A. GRKBNITZKI, 1 RUSSIAN MILITARY CHIEF OF THE COM- 

 MANDER ISLANDS. 



I, Nicholas A. Grebnitzki, Russian military chief of the Commander Islands dis- 

 trict, with the rank of colonel, make the following statement: 



I have been residing on the Commander Islands and have directed all sealing oper- 

 ations there for the last fifteen years, and during this whole period have been absent 

 from the islands but very little. I have carefully observed seal life, the condition of 

 the rookeries, and the method of taking seals at all seasons and under all conditions, 

 with the object of keeping the Russian Government thoroughly informed as to its 

 sealing interests and the proper management of the same. 



While I have never had the opportunity to examine the Pribilof Islands seals, yet 

 I do not hesitate to express the opinion that that herd and the Commander Islands 

 herd are distinct and do not mingle at all. There are some natives on the islands 

 who are familiar with both, and who state that there is a marked difference in the 

 animals. Besides, my studies as a naturalist enable me to state that it would be 

 contrary to all reason to suppose that they mingle with one another. The Com- 

 mander herd approaches very closely to the Robben Island herd in winter, and yet 

 it does not mingle with it. Of this I am sure, for I have charge of Robben Island 

 as well as of the Commander Islands, and know the skins of the two herds to be dif- 

 ferent. The skin of the Commander seal is thicker, has'coarser hair, is of a lighter 

 color, and weighs about 20 per cent more than a Robben skin of the same size. 



It is wholly improbable that the seals of the Commander herd visit any land other 

 than the Commander Islands. I believe they regard these as their home, these islands 

 being peculiarly adapted to their needs at the period to bring forth their young and 

 of breeding. The fact that the Robben Island herd still frequents Robben Island 

 to the exclusion of any other land, notwithstanding it has been subjected there to 

 the utmost persecution, shows to my mind conclusively that the presence of man 

 will not prevent a seal herd from returning to the same land year after year. Even 

 if isolated cases have occurred (I know of none) in which for various causes a few 

 of the Commander Islands seals reached other shores, such exceptions would not dis- 

 prove the general rule above stated. I can readily understand that a female which 

 had been wounded in the water might be subject (sic) to seek the nearest land and 

 there give birth to her pup. 



Annually, at almost stated periods, they arrive at the islands and immediately pro- 

 ceed to occupy the same grounds which have been occupied during past years in a 

 way which makes it impossible to doubt that they are familiar with the locality. I 

 believe that at some time during the year every seal comes ashore. There is no reason 

 to believe that a certain number of any class remain swimming about in the neigh- 

 borhood of the islands all summer without landing, although there is considerable 

 difference in the time at which different classes arrive. 



Soon after landing at the Commander Islands those cows which were fertilized the 

 year previous give birth to their young. A cow does not, except in very rare instances, 

 give birth to more than one pup in a season. The birth of pups can only take place 



1 No written evidence having been produced in the report of the British commis- 

 sioners in support of the various views attributed to Mr. Grebnitzki, the United 

 States have deemed it desirable to obtain from that official a written expression from 

 his views upon seal life in general. 



