APPENDIX TO COUNTER-CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 803 



Deposition of George Wester. 



State of California, City and County of San Francisco, 



George We.ster, being duly sworn, deposes and says: 

 1. I am an American subject, and a resident of San Francisco. Have 

 been engaged in seal-hunting for the past seven years. 

 179 2. This year (1892) I was captain of the " Emma and Louisa," 



and reached this port on or about the 11th July, with 1,342 

 skins on board, which was the season's catch for the said vessel. 



On the 12th July, or next day after our arrival, I went on board the 

 vessel in order to discharge my skins, when I found the hatches up, and 

 a stranger engaged in sorting the skins out, which were being thrown 

 up from below. I asked the man at the hatch by whose authority this 

 was being done; he replied by Mr. Ladd's. I then asked the stranger 

 what he was doing, and he answered he was inspecting the skins, and 

 was appointed by the Customs to do so. 



3. I asked him if he was an expert, and he said he was. I then asked 

 him if he knew the difference between a sea-lion's skin and that of a 

 fur-seal. He made no reply, but smiled contemptuously. 



4. The inspection commenced about 11 A. M., and was finished before 

 2.30 p. M. of the same day, and was that usually made by a prospective 

 purchaser, for he appeared to throw them into piles according to sizes, 

 feeling the fur and glancing at the inside of the skin for the evident 

 purpose of seeing whether any were "punky." 



5. The said vessel •' Emma and Louisa" is owned and managed by C. 

 D. Ladd, merchant, of this city, who was present at the inspection 

 referred to, and remained during the whole time it lasted superintend- 

 ing and assisting in the work. 



6. I do not know the party referred to who inspected the skins, but 

 would describe him as from 30 to 35 years of age, 5 ft. 10 in. or 5 ft. 11 

 in. in height, fair complexion, and light moustache. 



7. In my experience of seven yesrs' seal-hunting I have handled a 

 large number of skins, and I consider it impossible for any expert to 

 determine with any degree of accuracy the sex of the seal from which 

 the skins have been taken (except in the case of an old " wig") after 

 they have lain for any time in salt, and altogether impossible to distin- 

 guish those of the females which have been carrying pup at time of 

 death, as the skins shrink to their ordinary size. 



8. I have not been paid or promised anything for making the fore- 

 going statement, which I have read over and found correct. 



(Signed) Geo. Wester. 



Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 8th day of December, 1892. 



[seal.] (Signed) Lincoln Sonntag, Notary Fublic. 



Deposition of George B. Barher. 



State of California, City and County of San Francisco. 



George B. Barber, of the city of San Francisco, being duly sworn, 

 deposes and says: 



1. I reside in San Francisco, and am book-keeper for C. D. Ladd, 

 merchant, of said city, doing business at Nos. 529 and 531, on Kearny 

 Street. 



2. Said C. D. Ladd is engaged in the sealing business as owner and 

 manager of the vessels "Emma and Louisa" and "Lily L." 



