APPENDIX TO COUNTEK-CASE OP GREAT BRITAIN. 729 



J never, until this year, kept any account of those seals I lost from 

 sinking after having been killed or mortally wounded, and I did it this 

 year, because there was so nmch talk about the loss from shooting, and 

 out of 2GG killed 1 lost 7. I was very careful, and have them all marked 

 down. 



I think for the utmost loss for a good hunter from sinking is 5 per 

 cent.; that is putting it at the outside. 



We are never stinted in the use of ammunition, and we can use all we 

 want for practice or game shooting. Seals are mostly shot from 20 to 30 

 yards distant with a shot-gun. 



Seals travel more now tliau they used to do in schools, and they are 

 mixed up — males and females, young and old — and when in schools are 

 wide awake, and seem to be getting educated to be on the watch. 



I have seen more seals this year than in any year before since I have 

 hunted, but they are wilder and harder to get at — certainly their 

 number is not growing less. 



In my experience along the coast I find that more than half of them 

 are females, but I cannot say very much about it, as we are paid by the 

 skin, and I didn't take much lujte. I have taken skins on the Eussian- 

 American and Japanese coasts, and down oft' the Island of Guadaloupe^ 

 and I cannot say that I have ever noticed any difterence in the quality 

 of the skin, though I think the colour of the latter are darker. 



I have seen seals cohabiting in the water, and by killing the female 

 first been able to get both. 



As a rule we don't get many old bulls, but I remember that in one 

 day, while on the "Mountain Chief," I got 18 old bulls. 



We meet with and get plenty of barren cows. 



In all the years I have been sealing I have only picked up but three 

 floating seals or "stinkers." 



I never heard of a leader to a school of seals. 



In 1883, crossing from the Japan Islands to Victoria in October and 

 November, I noticed seals every day during the voyage. 



I know all the sealing- vessels, as I hunted from Victoria, Seattle, and 

 San Francisco, and am also acquainted with most of the hunters, either 

 personally or by reputation. I have never heard of a hunter named 

 James Sloan, nor of William Long, nor of Henry Mason, nor of Peter 

 Collins, nor John Dalton, nor Richard Dolan, nor William Mclsaac, nor 

 James Kennedy, nor Patrick Maroney, nor Miles Nelson, nor Thomas 

 Brown, nor Charles Challal, nor Joseph Denis, nor Andrew Hofi'man, nor 

 James Kean, nor William H. Long, nor Henry Mason, nor William 

 Hensen, and they cannot be men of any experience in sealing. I know 

 a great many of the boat-pullers in this part, and I do not recollect 

 ever having heard of any of the above-named being employed in any 

 connection with sealing. 



I think that should any protection be given seals that the Behring 

 Sea should be closed, and killing on the Pribyloft" Islands prohibited 

 as well. 



I have not been jiaid or promised anything in consideration of making 

 the foregoing statement, which I have read over and found correct. 



(Signed) W. Conners. 



Subscribed and sworn to before me this 30th day of November, 1892. 

 [seal.] ' (Signed) Lincoln Sonntag, Notary Public. 



