COUNTER-CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 153 



175 OTHERMEANSOFESTIMATING DECREASE EMPLOYED 

 BY UNITED STATES ALSO UNTRUSTWORTHY. 



In the absence of direct numerical data, the United 

 States Commissioners base their statements as to the 

 recent and great decrease of seals on the Pribyloff Islands 

 chiefly upon the existence and dimensions of what they 

 call the "yellow-grass zone," or, as named by the British 

 Commissioners, the "grass limit." A rather well-marked 

 zone or limit of this kind, indicated by a different and 

 shorter growth of grass, is observable about most of the 

 rookery or breeding- grounds of the seals, as a strip differ- 

 ing in colour from the rest, and extending beyond the 

 edges of the ground in actual occu[)ation by the seals ; and, 

 further, in many places, rocks long resorted to by the seals 

 have become polished on the angles and edges. 



EXAMINATION OF THE FACTS BY" THE RESPECTIVE 



COMMISSIONERS, 



These features attracted the attention of both the British United stateB 

 and United States Commissioners, and were investigated '^'^rifoBHtith 

 by them. In order to support the particular contention com mission ers\ 

 held by the United States, it is necessary to assume thatss?!'"'^ ' ^^" 

 the seals at one and the same time occupied the ground 

 com])letely to the outer margin of the " grass limit," and 

 that this occurred within recent years. It is naturally 

 easy to find natives, and others who have been upon the 

 islands, and have only lately had their attention called to 

 the matter, expressing opinion that this was the case; but 

 it is submitted, in view of the facts hereinafter sliown, 

 that evidence of this kind is of no practical value. 



RESULT ARRIVED AT BY" BRITISH COMMISSIONERS. 



The whole subject, above briefly alluded to, has been^^^jBritisii c<.m. 

 very carefully studied by the British Commissioners, and, poTt.'pa^rL". -m- 

 though their Report must be referred to for details, it n ay •*^^- 

 be stated that they believe the " grass limit" to mark only 

 the maximum average range of oscillation of the breeding- 

 rookeries, and show that it is often reached or j^assed at 

 the present time, particularly during the latter part of the 

 breeding- season, by roving masses of seals. They write: 



It may therefore be stated, in concluding the consideration of this Ibid., i>ara. 395. 

 subject, that neither the extent of tlie seal polished rocks nor that of 

 tlie"{>;rass limits" in the vicinity of the breeding-grounds can be 

 trusted to for the purjiose of giving iufornia«tion as to changes in area 

 or position of ground occn])ied by seals in recent years as contrasted 

 ■with that at present occupied. Far less can it be taken to indicate in 

 any reliable manner the numerical decrease in the seals in these 

 17G years, or be accepted in jilace ot the annual details on this sub- 

 ject whicji an intelligent su])ervision of the rookeries would 

 ha\"e exacted as a matter of ])rime importance, but which are unfor- 

 tunately wanting, and can only be in part supplied by incidental 

 allusions or collateral observations which have been preserved. 



