108 COUNTER-CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



SEALERS DIFFER AMONG- THEMSELVES. 



552!'57r, 52i; 508; Thus, W. E. Martin states that the lialr on the Com- 

 519! and 580. niandei" Island skins has a yellower iimje; H. S. Bevington 

 and H.Pohmd, that these skins are lighter in colour; while, 

 on the other hand, C. W.Price states that both fur and hair 

 are darl-er; G. Bantle, that the under toool is darlier; J. J. 

 Phelan, that the hair is darler; and E. Teichmann, that the 

 top hair is da.rlcer. 



Again, Messrs. C W. Martin, J, J. Phelan, G. 

 124 Leibes, H. S. Bevingtru, H. Poland, and E. Teich- 

 mann state that the fur in the Commander Island 

 skins is shorter; some, however, making the statement gen- 

 eral, and others confining it to particular parts of the skin; 

 while Sneigeroft, the native foreman in charge of the Beh- 

 ring Island rookeries (who has also had experience in the 

 Pribyloft" Islands), states tliat both the hair and fur of the 

 Commander Island seals is longer. 



FURTHER EVIDENCE ADDUCED IN THIS COUNTER-CASE. 



Apparently the only general j^oints of difference, in 

 which all the witnesses who mention them practically 

 agree, is that the Commander Island skins, as received, are 

 narrower toward the neck and fiaidv, and have been on the 

 average smaller than those from the Pribylott" Islands. 



A list of all the leading buyers of seal-skins in the world 

 is given in the United States Case, Appendix II, j). 5G6. 

 There are thirty-nine in number. Of these, as many as 

 possible have been seen, and thirty have actually been 

 Appendix, vol. interviewed, and their opinions have especially been re- 

 11, pp. 230-253. quested on the subject of the alleged differences between 

 skins from the Commander Islands and fiom the Pribyloff 

 Islands, with the result that they are unanimous in saying 

 that the only differences which e.\:ist are that the fur of the 

 Pribyloff skin grows somewhat closer or denser, that the 

 sizes of Pribyloif consignments run a little larger, and that 

 the flaying and curing in tlieir case is better performed; 

 that these are the distinctions which produce the difference 

 of price; that, concerning the other alleged variations: as 

 to colour, they have noticed that Coppers were lighter on 

 the average, but that Alaskas have been at times the 

 lighter; that as to shape of skin and the length of fur, 

 they either deny any difference or say it is too trivial for 

 notice. 



DIFFERENCES SO SLIGHT THAT SKINS FROM COMMANDER 

 AND PRIBYLOFF ISLANDS NOT SEPARATELY CATA- 

 LOGUED TILL 1887. 



It is also a noteworthy circumstance that jNIessrs. Lamp- 

 son and Co., who, as London agents of the lessees of both 

 the Pribyloff and Con)mander Islands, disjiose of all seal- 

 skins taken on both groups of islands, up to the year 1887 

 made no distinction in sale catalogues between Pribyloff 

 Island and Connnander Island skins. In that year, for the 

 first time, the words '' Alaska " and "Coppers" were printed 



