ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 49 



(5) In the congress the representative of the three powers to have six voices, 

 resulting in two voiers lor every one of these powers, which concession to be granted 

 upon the facta of paragraph 1. 



(6) The congress to deal with the stoppage of pelagic sealing of the fur seal, and 

 possibly to come to an understanding upon it and to enforce it. 



B. Concerning certain laws and precautions in the dominions of the United States. 



(1) To prohibit taking seals at sea by home vessels and by small boats along the 

 coast during the wanderings of the animals. I think that a great many fur seals 

 are killed on their way to the south and their return to their breeding places in the 

 north before ever they do reach the neighborhood of the latter. The fact that these 

 wandering animals are chiefly pregnant females, which as game are protected by 

 laws among all civilized nations, may grant them safety also along the coasts of 

 British Columbia. 



(2) To see that the existing laws at present in use on both St. Paul and St. George 

 islands regarding the protection of male pups are strictly observed. 



(3) To investigate the nutritious necessities of the fur seal. I believe that the 

 animals feed, besides on fish and crustaceans, also on different forms of mollusca, 

 especially on mussels, aud also on certain seaweeds. 



(4) In ascertaining the foregoing, to try to increase the quantity of food in the 

 sea of the Pribilof Islands, especially for the reason that females, when nursing, 

 may be not compelled to stray as far as 100 to 150 miles from shore, deserting their 

 pups for so long and being also exposed to the weapons of the pelagic sealers. 



(5) In ascertaining the nutritious necessities to pay special attention to mussels 

 belonging to the families of the Mytil'tdce and Aviculidce, (to the genera of Mytilus, 

 Modiola, LitJiodomis, Pinna, and others), who have thin shells, or to other species of 

 the North Pacific, which would promise a good prolification ; further, also, to certain 

 seaweeds, for submarine plantation, the species to which I allude containing a great 

 deal of eatable gelatinous matter. 



(6) These measures, besides to be taken from economical reasons on behalf of 

 home commerce and home trade, to be recommended also from a scientific point 

 of view, as an act of preservation of a sea mammal and from the common laws of 

 humanity, that species of large and wild living mammal may be guarded against 

 utter annihilation. 



Mankind, never to forget that, being the master among the living creatures on 

 earth, it has the power of re-creation. 



If the pelagic sealing of the fur seal is carried on still longer, like it has been exe- 

 cuted during the last years, the pelagic sealing as a business matter and a living 

 will soon cease by the full extermination of the useful animal. 



The objections brought forward by the friends of the pelagic sealing against its 

 stoppage, that the latter will ruin a great many families of seamen and fishers, can 

 not be taken as sound arguments. It is a well-known and a common thing in our 

 age, but a weekly occurrence during the last years, that a new trade springing up 

 ruins two other trades, and hardly in one case out of hundreds can a compensation 

 be given or is asked for. 



In concluding my note, I thank you, my dear sir, as my esteemed fellow-worker in 

 another transatlantic sphere, for the excellent work which you have executed during 

 your weary investigations in the Bering Sea. May this noble and important work 

 be crowned with the deserved success that that piratic hunt may be stopped for- 

 ever. The opportunity of the Columbian Exhibition in Chicago might be used to 

 call the congress to Washington, and then to give to the delegates the treat of a 

 visit to the monstrous exhibition. 



I should feel very happy if one day to come I can make your personal acquaint- 

 ance and can shake hands with you, my dear sir. 



With my humble respects, I remain, your most obedient, 



Dr. EMIL HOLDB. 



LETTERS AND STATEMENTS OF NATURALISTS. 



STATEMENT BY PROF. T. H. HUXLEY. 



The following statement by Prof. T. H. Huxley, F. E. S., etc., tlie 

 eminent naturalist, was prepared at the request of the counsel for the 

 United States. As appears from the statement itself, it was given by 

 Professor Huxley as a scientist, not as a retained advocate: 



(1) The problem of the fur-seal fishery appears to me to be exactly analogous to 

 that which is presented by salmon fisheries. The Pribilof Islands answer to the 

 upper waters of a salmon river; the Bering Sea south of them and the waters of the 

 H. Doc. 02, pt. 2 4 



