AN ALLEGED CAUSE OP DECREASE. 71 



the breeding- grounds till 1875 or 1876, which Reasons for his 



& & report. 



would correspond with Captain Bryant's state- 

 ment that the decrease in male life ceased in 

 1876 and breeding male seals began to increase 

 to such an extent in 1877 that he affirmed that 

 in two years (1879) the loss would be made 

 good (Sec. 679). This is further and fully ex- 

 plained by the same witness in his deposition 

 appended to the Case of the United States. 1 



The evidence presented in the Report, which Divisions of evi- 

 treats of the period from 1870 to 1880, consists 

 (1) of statements to the effect that 100,000 or 

 more skins could not be taken on the Islands 

 without depleting the herd, and (2) of other 

 statements or conclusions to the effect that the 

 male seals, both breeding and nonbreeding, had 

 decreased during the first decade of the lease of 

 1870. 



As to the first statements mentioned, it is in- irrelevancy of 



the first division. 



sisted by the United States that it is entirely ir- 

 relevant how many seals were taken on the 

 Islands annually, unless it can be shown that the 

 number killed resulted in a diminution of the 

 normal number of the seal herd, or at least the 

 male portion of it. The so-called proof, how- 

 ever, on this point which the Report presents as st Sements n a S s 8 to 



, , v T» • j o , • • Russian period. 



to the Russian period oi occupation is so mam- 



• Appendix to the Case of the United States, Vol. II, p. 7. 



