SEALSKIN INDUSTRY IN UNITED STANES. 647 



their selfisli greed exterminate tlie auinuil whicli now, under the wise 

 policy of Congress, plays so important a part in the economy and distri- 

 bution of commerce. Three years of open sea would sufitice in these 

 waters to repeat the story of the southern ocean and the fur-seal would 

 be of the past, and a valuable industry would be obliterated forever. 

 Let the sea be open to all commerce that harbors no evil intent, but 

 protect the seal life that swims in its waters and " hauls" on its shores. 

 Let the sea be as free as the wind to all legitimate commerce, but 

 protect the unique possession of seal life that harms none and benefits 

 thousands. 



C. A. Williams. 



Exhibit B. 



[From C. M. Lampson & Co. to C. A. Williams, August 22, 18S9.] 



London, 04 Queen Street, E. 0., 



August 22, 1888. 



Dear Sir : We beg to acknowledge receipt of your favor of the 

 10th instant, inclosing draft of a paper to be submitted to Congress on 

 merchant marine and fisheries. 



We have read the paper with a great deal of interest and consider 

 that it places the matter in a thoroughly impartial way 

 before its readers. It has been so carefully prepared ^A|Fees with Mr. 

 and goes into all details so fully that we can add but mentsto'congress. ^' 

 little to it. There are, however, one or two points to 

 which we beg to draw your attention, and which you will find marked 

 in red ink on the paper. 



When speaking of the supply of fur-seal skins we oftupily!"*'^ """'""" 

 would snggest mentioning the following localities: 



(1) Cape of Good Hope. — From some islands off this cape, under the 

 protection of the Cape Government, a yearly supply of from 5,000 to 

 8,000 skins is derived. All these skins come to the Lou- 



don market, part of them being sold at public auction, ''*^®° "*" °^^' 

 the remainder being dressed and dyed for account of the owners. 



(2) Jaj}an. — The supply from this source has varied very much of late 

 years, amounting sometimes to 15,000 skins a year, at 



others to only 5,000. Last year, we understand, the ^^^^' 

 Japanese Government passed stringent laws prohibit- 

 ing the killing and importation of seals, with the view aneae Govemmrat!'^' 

 of protecting seal life and encouraging rookeries, and 

 the consequence has been that this year very few skins have come for- 

 ward. 



(3) Vancouvcrs Island. — For many years past, indeed long before the 

 formation of the Alaska Company, regular supplies of 



fur-seals in the salted and parchment state have come 

 to the London market, killed mostly off Cape Flattery. The quantity, 

 we should say, has averaged at least 10,000 per annum. This catch 

 takes place in the months of Mar<;h and Ai)ril, and we believe that the 

 animals from which these skins are derived are the females of the 

 Alaska seals, just the same as those caught in the Bering Sea. 



Had this quantity been materially increased we feel sure that the 

 breeding on the Pribilof Islands would have suffered before now; but 

 fortunately the catch must necessarily be a limited one, owing to the 

 stormy time of the year at Miiich it is made and the dangerous coast, 

 where the seals ouly for a- short time are found, It must, ho>vever, b§ 



