98 COUNTER-CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



CIRCUMSTANCES PERMITTING A TEMPORARY CONTROL. 



The further circumstance, also adduced in the Case of the 

 United States, that, after being driven to the vicinity of 

 the killing-grounds, such bodies of seals may without diffi- 

 culty be kept together till the time for killing arrives, 

 depends in part on the same fact, and in i)art on the addi- 

 tional circumstance that the seals are then completelj^ 

 7io,Vii.'' ^^^^^' exhausted. Even when eventually turned away from the 

 killing-grounds, the spared seals are often in too exhausted 

 a state to return voluntarily to the sea for long times. 



SEALS FEARFUL OF MAN. 



Neither is it difficult to sliow by recorded observations 



that the allegations made to the eflect that the seals do 



not show fear wben api)roached by man on the islands are 



unfounded, or, at least, so much exaggerated as to convey 



a wholly wrong impression. When on the breeding- 



113 islands they are certainly not so wary as when at sea. 



Quotationsfrom They are, in fact, particularly occupied at this season 



autiiors on this by their own affairs; and, besides, like other wild animals, 



subject. under such circumstances to some extent emboldened by 



numbers. Mr. Elliott writes on this point : 



Census Report, But the compauionship and the exceeding number of the seals, when 

 P' assemhled together annually, makes them bold. 



They are nevertheless readily alanned. 

 Mr. Elliott, in his evidence before a Congressional Com- 

 mittee, says: 



44tli Cong., 1st The females are exceedingly timid. The males are very bold, and 

 portNo!623 p 78 ^^^^ "''^ leave unless driven off, but the females will.' I myself, 

 ' ■ ' unaided, could drive every seal off that island in two years, without 

 killing one. 



Again, in evidence before another Committee of Con- 

 gress, he says : 



50th Cong., 2nd Let anybody disturb them [the breeding seals] however, go among 

 port No 3883^B theni with iire-arms or clubs or along the beach even, and they will 

 1^7 ■ ' ^' soon take the alarm and leave. 



Mr. H. A. Gliddou, Government Agent on the Pribylofif 

 Islands, also says: 



Ibid., p. 25. The seal is a sensitive animal, and it does not like to be disturbed, 



and it must not be disturbed. If they are they will not go there 

 [Pribyloff Islands] at all. 



^ihid., pp. 63, In the same Eeport, Messrs. T. F. Morgan and J. H. 

 Moulton give like statements. 



Professor J. A. Allen quotes Captain Bryant as follows: 



Britisli Com- Constant care is also necessary lest thoughtless persons incautiously 

 mis.sioners' Ee- approach the breeding-grounds, as the stampede of the seals which 

 iluH. Mus'^Conm. ^ould result therefrom always destroys many of the young. 



zooi., vol. ii, Part g^j.^^^ E-ordcuskiold likewise says : 



''Vo"aoe'of ufe ^^^ young ones are often smothered by the old when the latter, 

 'Vega,'"" vol. ii frightened in some way, rush out into the sea. After such an alarm 

 p. 290,' ' hundreds of dead pups are found on the shore. 



