ALLEGED CHANGES. 109 



The Commissioners also assert that the seals independent 



pelagic her da 



found in Bering Sea are not seals which have alleged, 

 temporarily left the rookeries to feed, but are 

 practically independent pelagic herds (Sec. 219). 

 The only evidence referred to for tins is some 

 alleged observations of the direction of the wind 

 and the locality where seals are found, together 

 with the assertion that the locality must be 

 affected by the weather; but these observations 

 are not given, and, even if true, are quite too 

 slender to furnish a foundation for any conclu- 

 sion. 1 



This suggestion of increased pelagic nature is increased pe- 

 lagic nature an as- 

 based on mere assumption, for which no proof, sumption. 



reliable or otherwise, is advanced by the Com- 

 missioners, and the United States insist that it is 

 unworthy of serious consideration in this contro- 

 versy. 



(6) That the location of the breeding rook- 

 eries is dependent solely upon the fact that the 

 seals while there are not disturbed by man. 



This assertion (Sees, 523, 524), implying also Change of rook- 

 eries based on 

 the possibility of a change of rookeries when the hearsay. 



seals are harassed, is partly founded on Indian 



legends and statements by J. W. Mackay and 



J. Gr. Swan, based on hearsay (Sees. 447, 448, 449), 



that rookeries formerly existed on the North- 



1 C. L. Hooper, post p. 370. 



