126 COUNTER-CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



witnessed the act at sea, and many not only describe the 

 attendant circnmstauces, but have killed and secured both 

 male and female. 



The known period of gestation and dates of birth are, in 

 fact, alone sufficient to show that coition must frequently 

 take place in the water far distant from the Pribyloffs. 



CLIMATE AND FORMATION OF THE PRIBYLOFF ISLANDS 

 ARE NOT THE CHIEF REASONS OF RESORT OF SEALS 

 THERE. 



nii^siumrs'*^ r'e Poii^ts couuected with the physical characteristics of 



port,''i)aias. 24 i- the breeding- grounds of the lur-seal, and its requirements 



2''^- in this respect, to which prominence is also given in 



the Case of the United States, have been so fully dealt 



with, from personal observation, by the British Com- 



14() missioners, that it is considered unnecessary here 



to do more than refer to their lieport, and to quote 



their conclusion, which is in the following words: 



Ibid., para. 27C. As a further result of the examinatioa of the physical charactei'is- 

 tics of the rookery <;roun(l8, it may he vstated that the neceseary con- 

 ditious, and even the most favourahle conditions, are by no means 

 contiued to the Pribyloff" and Commander Islands. 



ISOLATION AND QUIET THE CHIEF REASON. 



British Com- The British Commissioucrs likcwlse poiut outvcry clcarly, 

 !?^lT""l,^qVtliat the isolation and the uninhabited character of the 

 247,248. breeding resorts ot the lur-seal, not only in the jSorth Pa- 



cific, but generally over the world, are, (by reason of the 

 security and absence from disturbance which they afford), 

 the ruling factors in the selection of such resorts by it. 

 Thus, except in the relative degree of importance attached 

 to such isolation as compared with other circumstances, 

 there is again a substantial agreement between the British 

 Commissioners' Eeport and the statements made in the 

 Case of the United States in this respect. 



SPECIAL PROMINENCE GIVEN TO CLIMATE IN UNITED 



STATES CASE. 



It will be observed, however, that particular importance 

 is in the Case of the United States attached to the climate 

 of the Pribyloft' Islands, and that the requisite climatic fea- 

 tures are stated to be found in the Pribyloff and Commander 

 Islands only. 

 Wallace, "Goo While it is wcll known that climatic conditions are among 

 fi™Ho"*'oV^'*iV'^^'^ most effective ruling causes of the limitation of range 

 inais.'voi. i, p).. or habitat of all organic forms, whether animals or plants, 

 "•^^- the kn-own facts are, it is believed, entirely opposed to the 



statement that other shores, and particularly other insular 

 areas in the northern part of the North Pacific, are not 

 equally well adapted in respect of climate for the residence 

 of the fur-seal during the breeding season. 



BUT THIS SHOWN TO BE ERRONEOUS. 



TTnitert States lu vicw, liowcvcr, of Special prominence given to argu- 

 Case, pp. 89-91. jjj(jjj^g bascd ou alleged peculiarities of the climate of the 



