688 iPPENDIX TO COUNTER-CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



males. Some years there are more females got tliau in other years, but 

 I have never got more females in any catch than males. On the coast 

 some of the females are with pup; my experience is that not more than 

 20 in the 100 are with pup. The largest part of my catches has always 

 been young bulls, and of the females, mostly young cows. 



5. That 1 have been three seasons in Behring Sea hunting seals. In 

 1887 I was there in the "Anna Beck" — seized after three days' sealing. 

 I was there again in 1890 and 1891 in the "Beatrice." In 1890 I got 

 900 skins there between the 20th July and 24th August. This catch 

 was about two-fifths females — none in pup — none with a supply of 

 milk, but a good many showing milk dried up. These cows had been 

 to the breeding-grounds, and had finished nursing their young. 



6. In 1891 1 got 300 seals in about ten days' actual sealing, and was 

 then warned out on the 26th July. This lot of seals was divided as to 

 sex about as the year before. I went across Behring Sea to the Copper 

 Island grounds last year, 1891 ; I saw seals for a long distance west of 

 the Pribyloft" Islands. I got 500 seals there last year — nearly half cows. 

 Most of the cows showed dried milk in the breasts. This was after the 

 12th August. 



7. This year I went over to the Asiatic side outside the Aleutian 

 Islands, about 30 miles off shore, I saw scattering seals all along the 

 course, especially off Amutka Pass (172nd), and also about the 180th 

 parallel of longitude. These seals all seemed to be travelling towards 

 the Behring Sea, but to what point I could not tell. 



8. That on the Copper Island grounds this year I got about 200 skins 

 in two weeks, 100 of which were good [got?] in one day. This 100 were 

 90 per cent, males. Shortly afterwards I was seized, and the voyage 

 broken up. 



9. That there is no difference in the seals on the two coasts. There 

 may be a difference of quality in the fur, but in the seal itself there is 

 none. 



. 10. This year I saw just as many seals on the coast as in any of the 

 first three years I Avas out sealing. Some years there seems to be more 

 on the coast than other years, but on the whole I see nothing to war- 

 rant the conclusion that the seals are decreasing in number. If there 

 is a decrease in the number going to the rookeries, it is because of the 

 killing on the rookeries. 



11. I have always had Indian hunters, and they lose no seals. They 

 use the si)ear always, except when the seal is liable to escape after 

 spearing, I am speaking only of my own Indian hunters. 



12. That I have never seen a dead seal on the water, nor have I 

 known any of my hunters to find any. 



And I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the 

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

 Oaths." 



(Signed) Michael Kjeefe. 



Subscribed and declared by the said Michael Keefe before me, a 

 Notary Public duly commissioned, and residing and practising at the 

 city of Victoria, in the Province of British Columbia, this 2Gth day of 

 November, a. d, 1892, 



[seal,] (Signed) Arthur L, Belyea, 



A Notary Fubiiv in and for the Frovince of British Columbia. 



