222 COUNTER-CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



258 progress on the Pribj^loff Islnnds. The Table prac- 

 tically includes all the skius taken on the islands 

 during the i)ast twenty years, and each skin has been sepa- 

 rately measured in order to be classified for the i)ur]wse of 

 the trade sales. The Table shows an almost continuous 

 decrease in the size of the skins taken since the year 1873. 

 The temporary improvement in size noticed in 1876 and 

 1877 is evidently directly connected with the smaller num- 

 ber of skins taken in these two years, wliich enabled larger 

 sizes on the average to be procured. Tbedistinc^t evidence 

 of recovery afforded by the increased average in size in 1885 

 remains unexplained, but it is important to note that it 

 actually corresponds with tlie year in which it is now 

 claimed in the Case of the United States, that the first 

 marked decrease in seals occurred. The deterioration in 

 size culminated in 1889. In 181)0, when the Government 

 Agent stopped further killing when only 20,905 skins had 

 been secured, the average size again became larger. A 

 slight relapse is shown in 1891, when 12,071 skins were 

 taken, and a very decided improvement in 1892, when the 

 killing was reduced to 7,500. 



When examined in connection with the general state- 

 ments respecting the condition of seal life on the islands 

 elsewhere cited,"and with the Table showing the number 

 of seals killed annually there, the Table here given affords 

 British Com- the most complete confirmation of the statements already 

 port,' p"T32, ami bascd ou these, and of the conclusion reached in this 



Diagram No. V. QhaptCr. 



EXCESSIVE KILLING OF MALES ON PRIBYLOFF ISLANDS 

 RESULTS IN GREATER PROPORTION OF FEMALES IN 

 PELAGIC CATCH. 



From the outlines above given relating to the persistent 

 killing of males upon the breeding islands, it is likewise 

 easy to understand that the allegations respecting the 

 large ])roportion of female seals included in late years in 

 the pelagic catch ni:iy to some extent at least be founded 

 on fact; the actual ratio thus brought about as between 

 ^rit^^'Co^m-t]ie sexes rendering it certain that in sea-sealing a much 

 poH, para. 700. larger number of fenuiles than of males must be met witli. 

 It is submitted that, in view of the foregoing facts, the 

 new contention endeavoured to be upheld by the United 

 States, to the effect that there has never been any scarcity 

 of males upon the rookeries, which contention is obviously 

 put forward in connection with the defence of the manage- 

 ment of the Pribyloff Islands by tlie United States, is 

 259 clearly untenable. If the statements quoted above 

 from official Keports are erroneous, it nuist ibllow 

 that the officials in cliarge of the islands were untrustworthy 

 or incompetent, and in either case subsequent nud retro- 

 spective statements by tlie same men cannot be success- 

 fully appealed to in evidence. 



