METHODS OF TAKING SEALS. 123 



methods of taking seals on the breeding* islands ; On PriMiof 



° ° Islands. 



all of these proposed improvements are already 

 in force on the Pribilof Islands, though the 

 United States admit that in some minor details 

 a change may be beneficial. 



The second suggestions are as to improvements At sea. 

 in the methods employed at sea. The first pro- 



t L J l Use of the rifle 



posal is to prohibit the use of the rifle. The fol- obsolete, 

 lowing statements in the Report show the little 

 importance of such a regulation : " The rifle was 

 introduced, though soon superseded by the shot- 

 gun, which has now become the usual hunting 

 weapon" (Sec.584, p. 100); "if killed, as happens 

 in the majority of cases, especially now that the 

 shotgun has superseded the rifle," etc. (Sec. 604); 

 "the use of the shotgun for the purpose of kill- 

 ing seals at sea has now become so nearly univer- 

 sal that it is doubtful," etc. (Sec. 657). It does 

 not seem that the Commissioners can seriously 

 advance a proposition to prohibit a weapon the 

 use of which in pelagic sealing has become ob- 

 solete. 



The second improvement is the adoption of a lewises apply 



1 L to only half of 



system of licenses for White hunters, there being huntera. 

 no suggestion made for such licenses for Indian 

 hunters. In 1891, according to the Commis- 

 sioners' table (p. 205), 715 whites and 368 In- 

 dians were employed on the vessels constituting 



