676 APPENDIX TO COUNTER-CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



Declaration of Robert S. Findley, 



Dominion of Canada, 



Province of British CoUimhia, City of Victoria, 



I, Eobert S. Findley, of tlie city of Victoria, make oath and say: 



That I have been four years sealing. The first year I was out on the 

 " Viva " as a boat-steerer. The next year I went sealing — 1890 — I was 

 a hunter; this was on the " Triumph." We went out in September on 

 an experimental trip, and only got 83 seals. In 1891 1 was on the 

 "Thistle," a steam-sealer, and went into Behring Sea, but we were 

 warned out soon afterwards. I got 53 seals, and did not keep count of 

 the seals that sank, but there were not many. This year I did keep 

 count of them. I was on the " Maude S." this season, and took 243 

 seals, losing 10 by sinking. There are very few seals that are wounded 

 badly and not got, for when I see that a seal is wounded I follow it if 

 possible until it tires out. I never saw so many seals before as there 

 were on the coast this year, but they were very wild. This was the 

 experience of other hunters too. I have seen seals travelling in schools. 

 They are very difficult to get at when in schools, even in small schools 

 of fiive or six, for there is a ways one on the lookout; it seems as if 

 they were on the watch for hunters. 1 have opened seals and find that 

 they eat different kinds of fish. 



About half-way across from Copper Island to this coast we made 

 about 150 miles one day, and saw sleeping seals here and there all day. 

 When they are that way there are a good many about, as when the 

 boats go out and get from 100 to 200 seals in a day, we don't see more 

 from the vessel than we did then. Seals were more on the lookoutthis 

 year, and harder to get. Never noticed that male seals have teats. I 

 have seen seals cohabiting in the water, and I have shot both the male 

 and female. It is when they are on or among kelp that I have 

 98 seen them doing this. I have seen Indian hunters with both gun 

 and spear, but they are getting to use the gun more all the time. 

 Former years we got on the coast more females than males, I think, but 

 this year there were most males. One day this year we got over a hun- 

 dred seals, nearly all of them being males. My catch in Behring Sea 

 was too small last year to be worth while dividing into sexes. I think 

 the seals on the Eussian side are exactly the same kind of animal as on 

 this side. 



I have read carefully all the statements written down in this affi- 

 davit, and swear that they are all true, and that no consideration has 

 been offered to or given me for having made them. 



(Signed) Egbert S. Findley. 



Sworn before me at Victoria, tliis 6th day of October, 1892. 

 [SEAi..] (Signed) Tnos. Shotbolt, J. P. 



Declaration of Thomas Garner. 



Dominion of Canada, 



Province of British Golumhia, City of Victoria^ 



I, Thomas Garner, of the city of Portlaiid, in the State of Oregon, 

 in the United States of America, make oath and say: 



That I have been engaged in sealing for three years. In 1890 on the 

 <'C.H, Tupper,"in 1891 on the "Louis Olseii," an Astoria schooner, and 

 this year on the "C. H. Tupper." In 1890 I got 210 seaLs, and including 



