: APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. Al 
No. 14. 
Messrs. Lampson and Oo. to the Harl of Iddesleigh.—(Received Novem- 
ber 13.) 
64, QUEEN STREET, LONDON, November 12, 1886. 
My Lorn: Weunderstand a question of international law has arisen 
between the Government of the United States on the one hand and 
the Governments of Great Britain and of the Dominion of Canada on 
the other hand, respecting the seizure by the United States Revenue 
cutter “Corwin” of certain Dominion fishing-vessels engaged in cap- 
turing fur-seals in the waters of Alaska. 
As the future existence of the fur-seal skin trade, in which we have 
for years past been engaged, largely depends upon the settlement of 
this question, we beg to submit, for your consideration, the following 
facts: 
25 Situated in the waters of Alaska, latitude 57° north, longi- 
tude 170° west, is the Pribylov group of islands, belonging to 
the United States. 
These islands, which are occupied every year from May to October 
by a large number of fur-seals for the purpose of breeding, have been 
leased to an American Company, under stringent conditions, which 
restrict them from killing more than 100,000 young males per annum, 
and strictly prohibit them from killing any female seals whatever. 
The fur-seal being a polygamous animal, the annual increase is not 
affected by the killing of this limited number of young males; and it has 
been found that the wise nursing by these means of this very important 
fishery has not only resulted in the preservation of the seals during 
the past sixteen years, but has also given an ample supply of skins for 
purposes of trade. 
During the last few seasons, however, fishing-vessels have been fitted 
out from ports in British Columbia and the United States, and have 
been engaged in the wholesale slaughter of female seals, which, during 
the breeding season, swarm in the waters round the islands for a 
considerable distance out to sea. 
Last summer several of the Dominion vessels were seized by the 
United States cutter, and it is stated that a case is being prepared by 
the Dominion Government, for presentation to the United States Goy- 
ernment, disputing the legality of the said captures. 
Should Great Britain deny the right of the United States Govern- 
ment to protect the fishery in an effectual manner, there can be no 
doubt that the Alaska fur-seals, which furnish by far the most impor- 
tant part of the world’s supply of seal-skins, will be exterminated in a 
very few years, just as in the South Atlantic the Shetland and Georgia 
fur-seals, which used to furnish even finer pelts than the Alaskas, have 
already been. 
It is evident, therefore, that the benefit derived by the Dominion 
fishing-vessels from the slaughter of these female seals will be short- 
lived. 
We would next point out that the 100,000 skins, the annual produce 
of the islands (worth 350,000/. at present prices), have been shipped to 
us for sale and manufacture in London for sixteen years past, thus 
affording in this city employment for a large amount of capital and 
means of subsistence to some 10,000 people, many of whom are skilled 
workmen earning wages up to 3l. per week. 
