98 SF.AI. LIFK <)N THK PRIKII.nF ISLANDS. 



AI)1>ITI< 'N AL TESTIMONY. 



Tin- forcju'oiiijn' testimony is that of scientists whose knowledge of the 

 subject under discussion can not well !>e questioned. Speak in u 1 for 

 niyseir. personally. I am pleased to find my own conclusions based on 

 a practical knowledge solely so fully indorsed by learned and disinter- 

 ested men. 



In addition to the testimony already quoted, however, and in order 

 to strengthen the position taken, I append to my ivpoi t the testimony 

 of statesmen, jurists. scientists, naturalists, shipmasters, sealers, seal 

 hunters, pelagic sealers, naval officers (American and r.ritish . mer- 

 cliantmeii. seamen. Indian hunters, native sealers. Treasury agents, 

 company agents, llritish and Amerieaii lieiin^ Sea (Commissioners, fur 

 traders, t'unie.s. I'ur experts, customs officers, and men of all classes, 

 native and foreign, friends and enemies, who have had either the prac- 

 tical experience, the general information, or the scientific knowledge to 

 warrant them in making sworn .statements on the subject at issue: and 

 a careful reading of the lest i nun iv introduced will show that their views 

 in general are in acco:d with mine, and sustain my position in every 

 particular. 



The quotations above referred to are taken from the American case 

 and counter case. 



So much has already been said in contradiction of the theories 

 advance*] by honest luit mistaken men about overdriving of the youn<^ 

 males and its consequent result of i in potency, of stampedes on the rook- 

 eries, and epidemics in the herd, by which so many pups were Mipposed 

 to be destroyed annually during the past decade, it is necessary for a 

 correct understanding ol' the contention that ! 1:0 back a few years and 

 uive a sketch of the causes which j - avc rise to such, until t hen. unheard 

 of t h-'ories which have been the direct cause of more than one halt the 

 troubles jn'rowiiijn' out of the fur-seal question in ileiin^' Sea. 



As already shown by the testimony of Messrs. II. 11. Mdntyrc. T. F. 

 Morgan. Daniel Webster. J.< . K'edpath. Dr. Noves. and others who 

 \\'ere on the seal islands for many \ears. it was not until iSSil the first 

 unmistakable decrease of the seal herd \\asapparent. Mad the facts 

 been reported immediately to the Department and the true cause of 

 >uch a sudden shrinkage shown, steps niiu'nt ha\'e been taken which 

 would have prevented furl her pelagic sealing 1 , or at least an addition to 

 I he sealing iieet : but unfortunately an over/ealous Treasury aireut 

 reported an increase of nearlv L'.OOU.uuo since Klliott's measurements 

 and estimates, some fourteen years earlier: and au'ain. in isss. he tells 



the I >epal tlliellt : 



I :im happx to lie aide in report that although late landing tin- hrccdiim nmkrrit's 

 :iri' lil!i-il HIM ID iln- liiirs <>l iiicii-iin-niciil licn-i nl'urc ni;nlc. ;iud xmif ul' llinn much 

 IM-VOMI! ihnsc lin.-. showing roiirl lisi vHy that sc;il lil'c i- iml litMii"' <lcpl-lrd. hut is 

 1'iiJl y up tn tin- > stimuli's -i \TII in my i--pnrt of Iss7. , 1,'cjM.rt of < . K'. '1'iii^lc. ISSS. i 



\\ hen that repo:l \\as written, and before it was written, everyone 

 on the seal inlands knew there were indications of a decrease of the 

 seal herd, and the employees of the lessees so reported at the time to 

 the superintendent. Dr. II. II. Mdntyre. who tells us: 



I P-pi-Mtrilh |mitiir<] mil t n i >u r << mi pun \ jiiid to i hr special Treasury a.ui-nts during 

 tin- seasons <i| ]ss7. Isss. unil ls>|i tlial (lie seal'- \\ere rapidlx d im i nish i uu. and that 

 in order to u<-t Ih.- full .|iiota allo\\n| ],\ la\v \\ e \\t-rt- oldl-rd to kill, in increasing 

 iiuiiiliei'- in each ol those \eal'-, animals thai should have heeii allowed to attain 

 greater si/e : and. linally, the eat eh of iss'.i \\ as most 1 y of t his class, i Set? Me] n tyro 

 to.I-!liics 7 I (rccmhci 1.",. ISMII. A ppcndix. i 



