874 APPENDIX TO COUNTER-CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



Declared at No. 170, Oxford Street, in tlie county of Londoiij this 5th 

 day of December, 1892. 

 Before me; 



(Signed) Walter B. Priest, 



A Commissioner for Oaths. 



Ko. 9. 



Declaration of Mr. Francis Arthur Lansdell, 



I, Francis Arthur Lansdell, of No. 190, Oxford Street, in the county 

 of London, furrier, solemnly and sincerely declare as follows: 



1. I am the manager of the firm of George Poland and Son, of 190, 

 Oxford Street, in the county of London, furriers. This business has 

 been established over a century. The firm buy at the annual sales in 

 London such seal-skins as they require for their business, and then 

 manufacture them into articles which are disposed of to the public. In 

 the course of business Messrs. George Poland and Son have to pur- 

 chase a considerable number of seal-skins every year. I purchase on 

 their behalf, and I am, therefore, familiar with the London seal-skin 

 market. 



2. There are three chief classes of seal-skins sold in the market, viz., 

 Copper Island skins, Pribyloff Island skins, and what is commonly 

 called the north-west catch. 



3. I have carefully considered the question of what differences exist 

 between Pribyloff Island skins, generally known as Alaskas, and Com- 

 mander Island skins, generally known as Coppers, and in my opinion 



the differences are as follows: 

 237 {a.) That the fur of Alaska skins is closer and denser than the 

 fur of the Commander Islands skins. 

 (&.) The sizes of the Alaska skins run somewhat larger than Coppers. 



4. The above two differences are to my mind the only differences that 

 exist, and they are the differences which affect the commercial price, 

 for we consider in the trade that Alaskas are better on account of the 

 greater closeness of the fur. 



5. 1 have found among the Alaska consignments sold by Messrs, 

 Lampsou skins which it would be impossible for me to distinguish from 

 Copper Island skins were it not for the fact that they were in the Alaska 

 catalogue, and also among Copper Island consignments I have found in 

 the same way Alaskas. 



6. I have often considered the question of regulations, and I am of 

 opinion that regulations should be introduced for the preservation of 

 seal life, and for the regulation of the north-west catch, such as a close 

 season, or some such arrangement, if satisfactory and efficient regula- 

 tions of this nature should be introduced which would carry out the 

 object in view. I should not be in favour of the suppression of the north- 

 west catch, as the result of this must, of course, be to create a monopoly 

 in the lessees of the islands, which, in my opinion, would not be bene- 

 ficial to our business generally, or which, as a business man, I would 

 oppose. 



7. And I make this declaration conscientiously believing the same to 

 be true, and by virtue of " The Statutory Declaration Act, 1835." 



(Signed) F. A. Lansdell. 



