7G 



ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



Of the pelagic sealers examined by the United States (United States case, Appendix., 

 Vol. II, pp. 31i>-507, inclusive) 79 give testimony as to the time they entered Bering 

 Sea. Of this number 68 entered the sea after Jnne 20 and 61 entered between July 1 

 and July 15. 



Of the 316 depositions taken by Great Britain and printed in the British counter 

 case (Appendix, Vol. II) but 5 give the time of entering Bering Sea. One of these 

 (Miner, p. 113) gives the time as ''the latter part of June;" 2 (Hartiven, p. 112, and 

 Figuera, p. 125) "early in July;" and the 2 others (Gaudin, p. Ill, and Lutjens, p. 

 121), "July 20." 



From the testimony stated above, it is evident why Great Britain failed to examine 

 witnesses on this point, since the British commissioners proposed as a restrictive reg- 

 ulation that Bering Sea should not be entered before the 1st of July, and the British 

 counsel, in presenting a scheme for regulations to the tribunal, incorporated the same 

 suggestion therein. It scarcely seems possible, in face of the evidence that sealing 

 does not usually begin in Bering Sea until July, that Great Britain's advisers can 

 really believe that it would restrict pelagic sealing to prohibit the sealers from doing 

 what they have never done, do not do, and never would do. 



Of the sealers examined by the United States and Great Britain, 29 suggest a defi- 

 nite period for a close time. They are arranged below in the form of a table, show- 

 ing the months in which they think pelagic sealing should be prohibited. The first 

 7 were examined by Great Britain, and their depositions are included in the British 

 counter case. (Appendix, Vol. II.) The remainder were examined by the United 

 States, and their statements appear in the United States case. (Appendix, Vol. II). 



These men, being pelagic sealers, know what months sealing is injurious to the 

 seal herd. If, therefore, the advice of all these witnesses were followed, every 

 month in the year would be closed to pelagic sealing. 



Tabulation of opinions of pelagic sealers, showing during what months protection is needed 



in Bering Sea. 



An examination of the foregoing table shows that as to some months all are sub- 

 stantially agreed that sealing should be prohibited if the seals are to be preserved. 

 These months are July and August, the principal sealing months in Bering Sea. 



All the 29 include July, except one, who thinks the close season should end on 

 July 15. 



Twenty-four, or four-fifths of the witnesses, include August, and 17 include Sep- 

 tember in their proposed close season. 



