880 APPENDIX TO COUNTER-CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



I also in my experience have found that the Alaska skins are better 

 handled than the Copper skins, that is to say, that we do not find 

 amongst them so many cut or hacked skins as we do in the Copjiers. 



4. The above are the chief elements which affect the question of price. 

 1 also think that the fact of the name of " Alaska" being well known 



to the public has an influence on the price. The public know the name, 

 and ask for it just as for the brands of manufactured goods. 



5. In examining consignments of skins from the Pribyloff Islands at 

 Messrs. Lampson's warehouse, I have often found a considerable per- 

 centage of skins which were quite undistinguishable from Coppers; 

 and in the same way, in inspecting the Coppers I have noticed a con- 

 siderable percentage which I could not distiuguish from Alaskas, and, 

 of course, a certain number in each class which, in a lesser degree, 

 resemble the other class. 



6. It is always a matter of considerable difficulty even for an expert 

 to distinguish Alaskas from Coppers, and I will undertake to say that 

 if 100 raw skins, composed of 50 of Alaskas and 50 of Coppers were 

 put together, there is not an expert in the trade that could separate 

 them correctly. 



7. I have not considered the question of regulations, and do not 

 desire to offer any opinion ujjon it, but I certainly would not approve 

 of any regulations which would have the effect of giving the lessees of 

 the islands the monopoly of the business. This, I think, would be 

 extremely injurious to the fur trade. 



8. And I make this solemn declaration, conscientionsly believing the 

 contents to be true, and by virtue of ''The Statutory Declaration Act, 

 1835." 



Declared at 43, Newgate Street, in the City of London, this 15th day 

 of December, 1892. 



(Signed) B. F. Slater. 



Before me: 

 (Signed) Walter B. Priest, 



A CommisHioner for Oaths. 



No, 15. 



Declaration of Friedrich August Gustav Weher. 



I, Friedrich August Gustav Weber, of No. 6, Newgate Street, in the 

 City of London, fur merchant, solemnly and sincerely declare as follows : 



1. I am a member of the firm of Ensor, Weber, and Co., wholesale 

 furriers. The firm has been established for twelve years. I have j)er- 

 sonally had an experience in the fur trade of about twenty years. My 

 firm in the course of their business annually purchase at public sales 

 and elsewhere about 5,000 seal-skins, most of which we have dressed 

 and dyed by some London dyer and dresser, and have them subse- 

 quently manuftictured in our workshops into articles which we dispose 

 of to the trade. I conduct, on behalf of my firm, the purchasing of 

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



2. There are three chief classes of skins, viz., the Alaskas which 

 come from the Pribyloff Islands, the Coppers which come from the 

 Commander Islands, and what is commonly called the North-west 

 catch. 



