S44 APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN, 
[Inclosure 1 in No. 120.] 
Lord Stanley of Preston to Lord Knutsford 
CASCAPEDIA RIVER, New RICHMOND, P. Q., July 3, 1891. 
My Lorp: With reference to your Lordship’s despatch of the 20th May last, trans- 
mitting a copy of a letter from Mr. Hawkins on the subject of the seal fishery in 
Behring’s Sea, I have the honour to forward herewith a copy of an approved 
75 Minute of the Privy Council, embodying a Report of the Minister of Marineand 
Fisheries dealing with the question. 
I have, &c. 
(Signed) STANLEY OF PRESTON. 
{Inclosure 2 in No. 120.} 
Report of a Committee of the Honourable the Privy Council, approved by his Excellency 
the Governor-General in Council on the 27th June, 1891, 
The Committee of the Privy Council have had under consideration certain papers 
from the Colonial Office on the subject of the seal fishery in Behring’s Sea. 
The Minister of Marine and Fisheries, to whom the matter was referred, observes 
that Mr. Hawkins states ‘‘since about the year 1885 we have received in this coun- 
try (England) large numbers of seal-skins, known in the trade as the north-west 
coast skins, the same having been taken in the open sea, and, from appearances that 
are unmistakable to the initiated, are exclusively the skins of female seals pregnant; 
these are all shot, and I have been informed that for every skin recovered five or six 
are lost through sinking when struck by the shot. . . .” 
The Minister further observes, in view of the numerous reports in which evidence 
of practical hunters and of other well-qualified authorities was submitted, refuting 
statements similar to the assertion made in the letter under review touching the per- 
centage of seals struck and secured by the sealers, it would seem that no necessity 
exists for a reiteration of the evidence embodied in the Minute of Council approved 
by your Excellency on the 4th November, 1889. 
The Minister, regarding the statement contained in Mr. Hawkins’ communication 
as to what he terms the ‘‘north-west coast skins,” would advert to the contention 
of the Canadian Government to the effect that real danger to seal life is to be found 
in the operations upon the hauling-grounds and rookeries increased by the catch of 
seals when slowly moving along or sojourning on the north-west coast of America, 
the females being then unquestionably in pup, before the ultimate swift and direct 
journey to the rookeries has begun. These seals are the first taken by the sealing 
fleet on their way to the Behring’s Sea, and are distinguished by the sealers as the 
“coast catch,” and by Mr. Hawkins as the “‘ north-west coast skins.” 
The Minister submits that the testimony produced by Mr. Hawkins in this con- 
nection is quite in accord with the information hitherto obtained, and is most valu- 
able in support of the contention of Canada. It has been previously pointed out 
that although great stress had been placed by the United States Government on the 
alleged necessity for prohibiting pelagic sealing in the Behring’s Sea, yet no attempt 
had ever been made by that Government for an arrangement to curtail similar opera- 
tions along the coast previous to the entry of seals into that sea. 
In an attempt to vindicate the methods of the lessees of the seal islands, Mr. Haw- 
kins proceeds: ‘‘ We, on the other hand, during my experience have had annually 
large numbers of seal-skins from Alaska, and also from the Copper Islands, which 
are killed by being clubbed on land, and are selected with judgment, being the skins 
of young male seals: the older fighting or breeding males are spared.” 
This is another presentation of the case of the United States Government for the 
prohibiting of every other character of sealing but that adopted by the lessees, so 
frequently combated by your Excellency’s advisers. While the Minister of Marine 
and Fisheries (loes not deem it necessary to dwell at any length upon the -point, he 
would, in passing, invite attention to the fact that notwithstanding this statement, 
the United States Treasury agents now assert the contrary, and the Government of 
the United States appear to be acting on the Reports of their Agents. 
The Minister further observes that a Minute of Council dated the 6th June, 1891, 
dealt at considerable length with this subject, and it included the Annual Report 
(1890) of Special Agent C. J. Goff, in which an alarming state of affairs at the rook- 
erles was revealed, due, it was stated, to the indiscriminate slaughter of seals and 
improvident operations of the lessees. In the opinion of the Agent and his assist- 
ants it had become necessary to enforce a total prohibition of the killing of seals 
for an indefinite period. 
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