S02 APPENDIX 'TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
No. 62. 
The Marquis of Salisbury to Sir G. Baden-Powell and Dr, Dawson. 
FOREIGN OFFICE, June 24, 1891, 
JENTLEMEN: The Queen having been graciously pleased to appoint 
you to be her Commissioners for the purpose of oe ¢ into the con- 
ditions of seal life in Behring’s Sea and other parts of the North Pacific 
Ocean, I transmit to you herewith Her ee Rane Commission under 
the Sign Manual to that effect. 
The main object of your inquiry will be to pe eeciaint “What inter- 
national arrangements, if any, are necessary between Great Britain 
and the United States, and Russia or any other Power, for the purpose 
of preserving the fur-seal race in Behring’s Sea from extermination ?” 
Her Majesty’s Government have proposed to the United States that 
the investigation should be conducted by a Commission to consist of 
four experts, of whom two shall be nominated by each Government, 
and a Chairman, who shall be nominated by Arbitrators. 
If the Government of the United States agree to this proposal, you 
will be the Delegates who will represent Great Britain in the Comnis- 
sion. 
But in the meanwhile it is desirable that you should at once com- 
mence your examination of the question, and that for that purpose you 
should proceed as soon as you conveniently can to Vancouver, from 
whence the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have been requested 
to provide for your conveyance to the various sealing grounds and 
other places which it may be expedient for you to visit. 
Application has been made to the United States Government for 
permission for you to visit the seal islands under their jurisdiction, and 
a Similar request will be addressed to the Russian Government in the 
event of your finding it necessary to visit the Commander Islands and 
other Kussian sealing grounds. 
oe attention should be particularly devoted to ascertaining— 
. The actual facts as regards the alleged serious Wee of seal 
life on the Pribylofft islantls. the date at which such diminution began, 
the rate of its progress, and any previous instance of a similar occur- 
rence. 
2. The causes of such diminution; whether, and to what extent, it is 
attributable— 
(a.) To a migration of the seals to other rookeries. 
(b.) To the method of killing pursued on the islands themselves. 
(c.) To the increase of sealing upon the high seas, and the manner in 
which it is pursued. 
38 I need scarcely remind you that your investigation should be 
carried on with strict impartiality, that you should neglect no 
sources of information which may be likely to assist you in arriving at 
a sound conclusion, and that great care should be taken to sift the 
evidence that is brought before - you. 
It is equally to the ‘interest of all the Governments concerned in the 
sealing industry that it should be protected from ail serious risk of 
extinction in consequence of the use of wasteful and injudicious 
methods. . 
You will be provided with all the documentary evidence in the pos- 
session of this Department which is likely to be of assistance to you 
in the prosecution of your inquiry. 
Mr. A. Froude has been appointed to be your Secretary, and will 
accompany you on your tour. 
