304 CHAPTER XVIII. 



THE SEAL-SKIN INDUSTRY. 



The United States' Contentions. 



(1.) United States Case, p. 266— 

 "Prior to 1870 all tlie fur-seal skins, save a few thousand, were marketed and sold 



in China A few skins however were purchased in England." 



(2.) United States Case, p. 267— 

 "It was not until the lease of the Pribilof Islands to the Alaska Commercial Com- 

 pany in 1870, and through the united efforts of that Company with C. M. Lamp- 

 son and Co. that the seal-skin industry received the impetus which has built it 

 up to its present condition." 

 (3.) United States Case, p. 268— 

 " The destruction of the Alaskan herd means practically the annihilation of the 

 seal-skin industry of the world. Therefore, the extent and value of this indus- 

 try, the consequent loss in case pelagic sealing is not prohibited, .... are 

 matters for consideration." 

 (4.) United States Case, pp. 274, 275— 



"It is necessary that the supply should be constant and regular, otherwise there 

 is great danger of loss to the buyers or sellers through fluctuation in prices, and 

 the business of buying and selling become speculative .... It is tliero- 

 fore evident that even in case oi^en-sea sealing could be carried on without insur- 

 ing the destruction of the herd, the results would demoralize and practically 

 ruin the seal-skin industry, now so firmly established." 

 (5.) United States Case, p. 281 — 

 " It is very questionable, however, whether there in any real investment in Canada 

 in pelagic sealing. 

 (6.) United States Case, p. 298— 

 " That the investment of these adventurers in pelagic sealing is speculative, gen- 

 erally unprofitable, and, when compared with the seal-skin industry of Great 

 Britain, France, and the United States, which is dependent upon this seal herd, 

 very insignificant; and that the profits, if any, resulting from pelagic sealing 

 are out of all proportion to the destruction that it produces." 



Summary of British Replt. 



The fur-seal business, prior to 1870, constituted a considerable part of the fur trade of 



Great Britain. 

 The existence of pelagic sealing does not necessarily occasion an irregular supply of 



skins. Tlie principal fur merchants are practically unanimous in opposing the 



suppression of pelagic sealing. 

 The capital permanently invested by Canada in the sealing industry exceeds the 



capital so invested by any other country. 



259 



