APPENDIX TO COUNTER-CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 877 



which would put an end to the north-west catch. In mj'^ opinion its 

 suppression would lead to a monopoly, and the entire seal-skin trade of 

 the world would be in the hauds of the lessees of the islands, and the 

 tendency of all monopolists is in their own interests to lessen the out- 

 put, and raise the price against retail dealers and the public. 



7. And I make this declaration conscientiously believing- the contents 

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



(Signed) George Boulter. 



Declared at No. 35, Queen Street, in the City of London, this 12th 

 day of December, 1892. 

 Before me; 



(Signed) Walter B. Priest, 



A Commissioner for Oaths. 



No. 12. 

 Declaration of Joseph Politzer. 



1, Joseph Politzer, of No. 35, Queen Street, in the City of London, 

 fur merchant,- solemnly and sincerely decjlare as follows: 



1. I am a member of the firm of Messrs. Phillips, Politzer, and Co. 

 The firm has been established since 1874. I have personally had an 

 experience of twenty- six years in the fur business. In the course of my 

 business I have annually to purchase for my firm a very large quantity of 

 seal-skins, and I am, therefore, acquainted with the seal-skin market. 



2. There are three chief classes of skins dealt with in the market, 

 viz., (1) Alaskas, or skins which come from the Pribyloff Islands; (2) 

 Coppers, or skins Avhich come from the Commander Islands; and (3) 

 north-west catch. The Alaska skins always fetch considerably more in 

 the market than either of the other two skins. The reason, in my 

 opinion, for this is that the name of the "Alaskas" is so much better 

 known to the public than any other kind, and also the quality of the 

 Alaskan fur is better on the average than that of the Coppers. By 

 quality I mean the fur on the Alaskan seals is denser and closer, and, 

 therefore, is found to wear better. It is what I would describe as a 

 stronger wool. These are the matters which influence the j^rice, but 

 the price is also, I think, influenced in favour of the Alaskan skins by 

 the fact that the sizes run somewhat larger in Alaskas, and the handling 

 appears to be much more carefully done than in the case of Coppers. 

 I think, however, that the fact which I have mentioned of the name 

 being better known affects the price more than anything else, because, 

 as a matter of fact, it is quite impossible to distinguish a high-class 

 Copper from an Alaska when made into a garment. The cleverest 

 expert in the trade would not attempt to do so. 



3. There is also a slight difference of colour, but this is very 

 230 trivial, and in no way enters into the question of price. The 

 colour also to a great extent varies in different years. I have 

 noticed in inspecting the consignments from the Pribyloff" Islands skins 

 (sometimes as many as 30 or 40 per cent.) which were perfectly undis- 

 tiuguishable from Copper Island skins, and in the same way in inspect- 

 ing consignments of skins from the Commander Islands I have noticed 

 skins which were similar to Alaskas, and of course in both classes I 

 have found skins which in a lesser degree resemble the other class. 



4. Although not a naturalist, I have nlways taken a great interest in 

 the seal question, and have read everything I could upon the matter so 



