COUNTER-CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. Ill 



treats the subject at some leugtli, reacliiDg very similar 

 conclusions, and adding: 



It is not unlikely that some season may occur when an Immense 

 number of the fur-seals which have lived during the last four or five 

 years ou the Pribilov Islands should be deflected from their usual 

 feeding-range by the shifting of schools of tish, &c., so as to bring 

 them, around quite close to "the Asiatic seal-grounds in the spring, 

 and the scent from these rookeries would act as a powerful stimulant 

 for them'to land there, where conditions for their breeding may be 

 as favourable us desired by them. 



MR. MILLER. 



In a Report on an investigation on the Alaska Commercial 

 Company by a Committee of Congress, dated 1876, Mr. J. F. 

 Miller, President of the Company, says that the seals upon 

 the Pribyloff Islands — 



maintain just about the natural iacrease very regularly; they do not 44th Cong., 1st 

 seem to uiigrate. Sess., H. R. Re- 



port 623, p. 45. 



But in reply to a further question as to whether they 

 were not supposed at a former period to have been driven 

 from the Pribyloff Islands to the Commander Islands, adds : 



They no doiibt were at one time. Some of them went over there, 

 and wiiere the others went we do not know, because they do increase 

 upon the Russian islands; so history shows. 



ME. BUYNITZKY. 



In a Congressional Report on the " Fur- seal Fisheries 

 of Alaska,'" dated 1889, Mr. S. M. Buynitzky, Government 

 Agent ou thePribylofflslands, gives the following evidence : 



Q. What, in your judgment, from your experience of that business 50th Cong., 2nd 

 in these islands, would be the effect of opening up the business, that Sess., H. ft. Re- 

 is, removing the restrictions, so that everybody could go in there and port 3883, p. 15. 

 kill fur-seals? — A. The jtrobable effect would be to drive the seals 



from these islands to the Russian group. 

 128 Q. That is, driving them from the American islands over to 



the Russian islands'? — A. That is the most jirobable effect. 

 That was conceded at the time by all who studied the question. 

 Secretary Boutwell knew that very well. 



MR. TINGLE. 



Mr. Geo. R. Tingle, long connected with the Pribyloff 50th cong., 2nd 

 Islands in different capacities, also said before the same po^t 38^5 Jf; 1^4®' 

 Committee : 



Q. What will be the effect if more stringent measures are not taken 

 to protect the seals by the Government? — A. If more stringent meas- 

 ures are not taken, it is only a question of time when these seals will 

 be driven ultimately to seek some other home where they will not be 

 molested. They will not continue to be harassed; and if this maraud- 

 ing is continued, they Avill, in my opinion, either be gradually exter- 

 minated or will leave the islands permanently and laud at some other 

 place. They may go ou the Russian side. 



MR. WILLIAMS. 



In the same Report Mr. C. A. Williams, one of the Direct- 

 ors of the Alaska Commercial Company, makes the follow- 

 ing statements, which, though now known not to be entirely 



