894 APPENDIX TO COUNTER-CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



«illy to purchase large quantities of seal- skins, and I am tlius familiar 

 with the seal-skin market. Besides purchasing seal skins in the mar- 

 ket, my firm have from time to time been large importers of seal-skins. 

 My firm imported considerable quantities of seal-skins shortly after the 

 cession of Alaska, and before the establishment of the Company. 



2. I have carefully considered the question as to the difference 

 between Coppers and Alaskas. They are as follows: 



(1.) The Coppers are, as a rule, a little paler in colour, but sometimes 

 the Alaskas are paler. 



(2.) The Alaska furs are much better in quality, that is to say, the 

 wool is denser and closer, but as to this, a considerable percentage of 

 Coppers are quite equal to Alaskas, and a still larger number in some 

 years very nearly approach Alaskas. 



(3.) As regards size, perhaps the Alaskas are a little larger as a 

 parcel. 



Tliese are the only differences I remember, and they are the ones 

 which affect the question of price. 



3. Tn inspecting consignments of Pribyloff skins I have invariably 

 found a large percentage which were undistinguishable from Coppers, 

 and in the same way in inspecting Coppers I have found a large i)er- 

 centage which were undistinguishable from Alaskas. I could not offer 

 any opinion as to the amount of the percentage, but it would be 

 considerable. 



4. I do not consider myself qualified to give an absolute opinion on 

 the subject of regulations, but I consider there ought to be a close sea- 

 son, or some arrangement which would put an end to the killing of 



gravid females. Subject to this, I would not be in favour of the 

 249 suppression of the North- west Catch, because, in the first place, 



I think it would injuriously affect the market prices and create 

 a monopoly in the business, which I think would not be beneficial to 

 the trade generally. 



5. And I make this declaration conscientiously believing the contents 

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



(Signed) R. DixoN. 



Declared at No. 19, Edmund's Place, in the City of London, this 16th 

 day of January, 1893. 

 Before uae: 



(Signed) Walter B. Priest, 



A Commissioner for Oaths. 



Kg. 31. 



I, Herbert Shelley Bevington, of No. 28, Cannon Street, in the City 

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



1. I am the same person as the H. S. Bevington who made a decla- 

 ration at the request of the United States Eepresentative on the 26th 

 day of April, 1892, and appearing at p. 551 of the United States Case 

 Appendix, vol. li. 



2. In my opinion at least 25 per cent, of the skins found amongst 

 Copper Island skins are undistinguishable from Alaskas, and in the 

 same way at least 25 per cent, of the skins found amongst Alaskas are 

 undistinguishable from Coppers. In both consignments I have noticed 

 also a considerable quantity of skins which in a less marked manner 

 resembled the other class, but I consider the bulk can be distinguished. 



