262 



COUNTER-CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



events from an early date in the present century, formed 

 a most important j)ortion of the Loudon fur trade: 



308 Tlie above Summary does not include sales by 



private contract, except those made tbrougli Messrs. 

 Oppenbeim. No figures as to otber private sales are avail- 

 able, altbougb no doubt tbey must have been considerable. 

 The second contention above advanced by the United 

 States in favour of the suppression of pelagic sealing is 

 that it produces an irregular sui)ply, which is an undesira- 

 ble circumstance for the fur trade, as it causes uncertainty 

 and consequent speculation. 



PELAGIC SEALING DOES NOT OCCASION IRREGULAR 



SUPPLY. 



The admissibility of this plea in the decision of a ques- 

 tion like the present, even if it were correct, is denied. But 

 it is not correct. No doubt, in the last few years the varia- 

 tion in the supply and price has been considerable, but this 



