APPENDIX TO COUNTER-CASE OP GREAT BRITAIN. 885 



3. There are three chief classes of sealskins dealt with in the London 

 market, viz. (1) Alaskas, which come from tlie Pribylof Islands; (2) 

 Coppers, which come from the Commander Islands; and (3) what is 

 commonly known as the North-west Catch. 



4. Of these three, the Alaskas are the most valuable, and command 

 considerably higher prices. There are several reasons for Alaskas 



•fetching a higher price than the others, the following being the princi- 

 pal ones, viz. (1) the quality of the Alaska fur is superior to the quality 

 of the Copper fur, that is to say, that it is denser and closer; this cir- 

 cumstance I have always attributed to the difference of climate and 

 food; (2) the Alaska skins run larger than the Copper skins, which I 

 always considered resulted from (he Alaska seals, as a rule, being better 

 fed, and therefore fatter or larger than the Copper seals. 



The above differences are the only diiferences which affect price, and 

 are due, in my opinion, to difference of climate and food. There is also 

 (3), taking the average of skins, a slight difference of colour, the Cop- 

 pers being more brownish than the Alaskas; but this is not always the 

 case, as I have seen Alaskas which were as brown as Coppers, but this, 

 of course, has no influence upon the question of pHce. 



5. In consignments that I have inspected from the Copper Islands, 

 sold by Messrs. Lampson and Co., I have noticed a certain percentage 

 of skins which, had I seen them elsewhere, I should have considered 

 them Alaskas, and in the same way I have found skins amongst Alaska 

 consignments that I have inspected which resembled the Copper 

 description. 



It is a matter of considerable difficulty to say what is the exact per- 

 centage I have so noticed, but J think it would be a safe estimate to 

 say that, in the Copper consignments, I have found from 25 to 30 per 

 cent, which resembled Alaskas, and in inspecting Alaska consignments 

 about the same percentage of skins which resembled Coppers. 



6. I have to some extent considered the question of regulations, and 

 I am of opinion that sufficient regulations should be introduced upon 

 the islands and at sea to insure the preservation of seal life as a whole, 

 but I should strongly oppose any regulations which would have the 

 effect of absolutely suppressing the North-west Catch. The North-west 

 Catch forms a most important factor in the market, and tends to regu- 

 late the price. Were the North-west Catch suppressed, it would place 

 the monopoly in the hands of the persons leasing the islands, who would 

 have it in their power to control the market, and, if they wished, remove 

 the trade from Great Britain. This, I think, would be dangerous to the 

 fur trade generally, and principally to the London fur merchants. 



7. And I make this solemn declaration, conscientiously believing the 

 contents to be true, and by viitue of " The Statutory Declaration Act, 

 1835. 



(Signed) Osw. Etsoldt. 



Declared at No. 12, College Hill, in the City of London, the 4th day 

 of January, 1893. 

 Before me : 



(Signed) Henry B. Priest, 



A Commissioner to administer Oaths. 



