388 APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
353 {Inclosure 1 in No. 249.] 
Deputy-Governor Sir W. Ritchie to Lord Knutsford. 
OrTawa, November 11, 1889. 
My Lorp: With reference to Lord Stanley of Preston’s confidential despatch of 
the 3rd Angust, 1888, in which was inclosed a copy of a Minute of Council of the 14th 
July of that year, protesting against the proposal made by the United States Govern- 
ment for the establishment of a close season for seals in Behring’s Sea, I lave the 
honour to forward herewith, for your Lordship’s information, a copy of an approved 
Report of a Committee of the Privy Council, to which are appended certain declara- 
tions and statements tending to support the contentions advanced by the Dominion 
Government in the above-mentioned Minute. 
I have, &e. 
“ : (Signed) W. J. Rircuie. 
{Inclosure 2 in No, 249.] 
Report of a Committee of the Honourable the Privy Council, approved by his Excellency 
the Governor-General in Council, November 4, 1889. 
_ Ona Report dated the 26th October, 1889, from the Minister of Marine and Fish- 
eries, stating that he has recently received from parties interested in the fur-seal- 
ing industry of the Behring’s Sea, further information relative to seal-hunting. 
The Minister desires attention to the Minute of Council dated the 14th July, 1888, 
made on a Report of the then Minister of Marine and Fisheries upon a proposal from 
Mr. Secretary Bayard, for the estavlishment of a close season for seals in the Beh- 
ring’s Sea, which was a proposition to agree to enforcing a close season from the 15th 
April to the Ist November in each year. 
The Minute of Council dealt very fully with this and pointed out: 
That the United States Minister, as reported in the despatch from Lord Knutsford, 
of the 8th March, 1888, then under consideration, had asserted that there were both 
close and open seasons for killing seals in the Behring’ 8 Sea, and that the United 
States Government was endeavouring to enforce the observance of these seasons by 
all nationalities alike, and, consequently, that during the open season seals could be 
pursued without fear of molestation, whereas, in fact, the killing of seals, except by 
-the Alaska Commercial Company, lessees of the Seal Islands, is entiiely prohibited 
by the laws of the United States, and this law was then being enforced against 
citizens of the United States and those of Canada. 
That the Alaska Commercial Company, under the terms of their lease, had a monop- 
oly of the industry, and killed 100,000 seals annually, for which monopoly they paid 
paid yearly into the Treasury of the United States over 300,000 dollars. 
The Minute of Council above referred to went on to show that no pressing neces- 
sity existed for the establishment of such a close season, since careful measurement 
of the “‘ Rookeries” on St. Panl and St. George Islands showed 6,337,750 seals, whilst 
only 100,000 were annually killed, and the United States Special Agent for Alaska in 
1887, reported the seals on the increase. 
That as the seals arrive in May and leave about the end of October, a close season 
from the 1st April to the 16th November, as proposed by the Honourable Mr. Bayard, 
would practically prohibit all fishing except by the Alaska Commercial Company, 
who could kill on the only places where the seals “‘haul out” during June, July, 
September, and October, four of the months of the proposed close season, thus estab- 
lishing their monopoly more effectually. 
That while under Mr. Bayard’s proposition this area would be closed against all 
operations except those of their own sealers on the Pribylofi Islands, other sealing 
areas in America and Asia would be open to her as before. 
That the Alaska Commercial Company has a leasehold from the Russian Govern- 
ment which does not fall under the proposed area. 
That while the arrangement would benefit Russia and the United States, Canada 
would lose the whole sealing industry. 
354 The Minister further observes that this Minute of Council called attention 
to the opinion of experienced sealers, who aver that by the present methods 
of hunting with gun and spear not more than one in ten of the seals struck is lost, 
and that it is not believed that these methods are so destructive as alleged. 
In the said Minute of Council it is claimed that the sole object of the United States 
was to establish a monopoly in the manner and locality of killing seals in favour of 
such United States citizens who might from time to time enjoy the privilege of 
sealing on Pribyloff Islands. 
