COUNTER-CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 107 



general contention as to the essential difference between 

 the Pribyloff and Commander Island '' herds," may be 

 summarized as "follows: 



2Ir. W. E. Martin, who is first quoted, and is most defi- 

 nite as to the differences in the skins, says that there are 

 marked differences between the Copper (Commander) 

 Island catch and tliat from the Pribyloft" Islands. He 

 enumerates these, and adds that they are such as to 

 enable — 



any one experienced in liiindling skins to distinguish the one from Tjnited States 



meotuer, vol. ii. p. 569. 



and — 



that before the skins are dressed the two may be readily distinguished 

 from each other. 



123 il/r. (r. J?/ce says that the differences are — irnited states 



•^ Case, Appendix, 



such as to enable any person skilled in the business . , . o. 



to distinguish them; but adds — 



The manner in which tlie skins are distinguished is difficult to 

 describe to any jierson not accustomed to handling skins. 



He further only i^rofesses to distinguish the skins — 



in the raw state. 



Alfred Fraser, though referred to in this connection, pro- ibid., p. 557. 

 fesses only to be able to distinguish j^orth-west catch from 

 "Copper " and Pribyloff catch collectively. He does so by 

 means of the shot and spear marks found in the skins of 

 the seals taken at sea. 



H. IS. Bevimjton holds that the difference is such as to ibid., pp. 551, 

 enable anyone skilled in the business to distinguish the^^"' 

 skins, "especially in bulk." He further adds, however, 

 that the skins reach the market in separate lots, and are 

 not found mingled. He admits that the difference is — 



difficult to describe to a person unaccustomed to handle skins. 



W. C. B. Stamp says that the differences are — iwd., p. 575. 



difficult to descril)e so that they can be understood by any person who 

 has no practical knowledge of furs. 



jEJ. Teichmann says that he could easily separate the Com- ibid., pp. sso, 

 mander Island and Pribyloff Island skins, but that as a^"*^' 

 matter of fact they are not mingled. In the case of very 

 young animals, however, the differences, are not well marked. 



ACTUAL METHODS OF DISTINCTION RELIED ON ARE CON- 

 TRADICTORY 



Several of the gentlemen quoted in this connection, and 

 whose evidence is given at length in the A])pendix to the 

 United States Case, offer no explanation of the grounds 

 upon which tliey rest in distinguishing the skins derived 

 from the Pribyloff and Commander Islands respectively, 

 while those who do. appear to rely chiefly upon the colour. 

 But great differences of opinion occur in respect to this. 



