612 APPENDIX TO COUNTER-CASE OP GREAT BRITAIN. 



Declaration of Abraham Billard, 



DoMmiON OF Canada, 



Province of British Columbia, City of Victoria, 



I, Abrabam Billard, of the city of Victoria, in the Province of 

 British Columbia, seal hunter, do solemnly declare: 



1. That I have been seal-hunting two years. In 1891, on the "Bea- 

 trice," with Indian hunters, and this year (1892) on the " Maud S.," as 

 hunter. 



2. In 1891 I got 120 seals, and lost 7 or 8 by sinking. This year I 

 got 264, and lost by sinking only 6. I remember the 6 distinctly, and 

 know there were no niore lost. 



3. I did most of my sealing on the American coast north of Cape 

 Flattery. Last year I saw a school of seals right off the Straits, a 

 little north of Cape Flattery. It was a line calm day, but I only got 

 one seal out of the thousands in sight. Twelve canoes were out from 

 the "Beatrice," and the total catch for the day was only fifteen. The 

 reason is, that the whole school was divided up into small bands, and 

 in every band there were seals awake, that, as soon as a boat or canoe 

 came near, began jumping among the sleepers to wake them up, and 

 before we could get near enough to shoot, the whole band was off. 



4. The Indians used spears mostly. They had guns, but seldom used 

 them. 



5. About one-half of my coast catch were females; about one-fourth 

 of these were in pup. I sealed in Behring Sea last year from the 2ud 

 to the 23rd July. I got thirty seals there. I don't now remember the 

 number of females among them, but remember three in pup. 



6. Last year the "Beatrice" crossed Behring Sea from east to west, 

 starting from about 35 miles north of St. Paul Island. I saw seals all 

 the way over to the Copper Island grounds, and got two seals on the 

 27th July on the line, between the American and Kussian sides of the 

 sea. 



7. That I do not know any difference between the seals on the two 

 sides of the Pacific. The seals generally over there may be a little 

 darker, but I have seen very dark skins taken on this side. 



8. I saw many more seals this year than last all along the coast, 

 especially oft' Cross Sound and Fair weather Grounds. 



9. Last year, in Behring Sea, I saw seals cohabiting in the water. I 

 remember twice distinctly. I got both seals both times, killing both 

 seals each time with one shot. The bull's penis was out in each case. 

 I am certain they were having connection. 



10. Male seals have teats as well as females, but not so large, espe- 

 cially in the older seals. 



11. That I have never found dead seals at sea, nor have I ever heard 

 of such. 



And I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the 

 same to be true, and by virtue of " Tlie Act respecting Extra Judicial 

 Oaths." 



(Signed) Abraham Billard. 



Subscribed and declared before me, a iSTotary Public duly commis- 

 sioned, and residing and practising at the city of Victoria, in the Prov- 

 ince of British Columbia, this 21st day of October, A. 3). 1892. 



[SEAL.] (Signed) Arthur L. Belyea, 



Jl Notary Public in and for the Province of British Columbia. 



