APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 393 
Thomas Howe. 
In 1886, on board the ‘‘ Theresa” and ‘‘ Pathfinder,” I got for the season 397 seals, 
and lost about 20. In 1887, on the schooner ‘‘ Penelope,” I got 510 and lost about 30. 
In 1888, on the ‘‘ Lily Lad,” I got 316 and lost 12. In 1889, on board the “ Viva,” I 
got 587 and lost 27. 
(Signed) Tuomas HowsE. 
Albert J. Bertram. 
This was my first year hunting seals. I went out on the ‘‘Annie C. Moore.” We 
left Victoria on the 25th January. I got during the season 320 seals. I use a shot- 
gun principally. On the coast I got about 25 to 30 females with young in them, and 
in Behring’s Sea I got about 6 or 7. I never saw a cow with her pup alongside of her 
in the water. I lost 21 seals that sank before I could reach them. 
(Signed) A. J. BERTRAM. 
358 APPENDIX 2, 
Statement by Mr, Milne. 
With regard to the early history of the sealing industry in British Columbia, it is 
well known that, owing to the sparse Settlements on the west coast of Vancouver 
and Queen Charlotte Islands, the taking of seals and the hunting of the sea otter 
was followed only by our Indian population, who pursued this industry in their own 
primitive manner, that is, by using the canoe and spear, and seldom venturing 
beyond sight of land. Their success was only known to the traders who had stores 
or stations, or trading schooners usuully visiting the west coast during that season; 
the white population up to later years being chiefly engaged in other occupations. 
Sealing and deep-sea fishing did not seem to attract much attention. The few seals 
caught by the Indians adjacent to the coast was not considered sufficient induce- 
ment to our seamen, and also the habits of the seal, their regular yearly migration 
from Behring’s Sea, and their long journey and return following the food fish, were 
all matters not full known or understood by our people. At all events, it does not 
appear that that knowledge was possessed of the seal life by our hunters, presented 
any extra inducement to them to follow this hazardous occupation. 
Up to the year 1865-66 the sealing industry remained in the hands of the west coast 
Indians; but in the year 1866 the schooner ‘‘ Kate,” of Victoria, British Columbia, in 
charge of Dutch Harry and Ogilvie, left Victoria on a sealing and trading venture to 
the North Pacific and Behring’s Sea. The success of the venture is unknown. It is 
said that this voyage was more for trading than seal hunting, and as expeditions of 
the former kind were plentiful at that time, the United States having about that 
time acquired possession of Alaska. It is now generally believed that they did not 
enter Bebring’s Sea for the purpose of sealing. At all events, the parties are now 
dead, and no authentic record can be found as to their success (if any) as a seal- 
ing voyage. Atter that time some few years appear to have elapsed before the seal- 
ing business was much noted, it being attractive to only a few traders engaged on the 
west coast in the usual barter and exchange with Indians. 
The pioneers of the sealing industry, namely, James D. Warren, Hugh McKay, and 
William Spring (of whom the first mentioned only survives to impart the early his- 
tory of the now important industry) reaped the reward of toil, and have retired to 
enjoy the fruits of their labour, 
About the years 1878-79 the schooners belonging to the port of Victoria, British 
Columbia, began to extend their voyages seawards, and the migrations of the seals 
became better understood. Schooners cruizing southerly in the early spring months 
would meet the returning seals, bound northward. At this time the following 
schooners engaged in this traffic: ‘‘Thornton,” owned by Captain J. D. Warren; 
‘Anna Beck,” owned by Captain J. D. Warren; ‘‘ Favorite,” owned by Captain 
Hugh McKay; ‘ Onward,” owned by Captain Hugh McKay. 
In the year 1880 the schooner ‘‘Mary Ellen,” a vessel 63 tons, was purchased by 
William Spring, and added to the sealing fleet at Victoria; and in the years 1881-82 
auxiliary steam power was added to the ‘‘ Anna Beck” and ‘“‘ Thornton,” and several 
new vessels were built. The sealing industry at this time was considered in a fairly 
prosperous condition. 
In the year 1883, the American schooner ‘‘San Diego,” of San Francisco, of which 
Daniel McLean was master, his brother Alexander McLean being mate (both Nova 
Scotians), fitted out in San Francisco for the North Pacific and Behring’s Sea on a 
walrussing and sealing voyage. With a crew of thirteen men they hunted along the 
west coast of California and British Columbia, starting about the 1st June, 1883. 
