176 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 
Much has been said of the legality of pelagic sealing, and to this we take no 
exception. Pelagic sealing is perfectly legal, but this legality was fixed by a tribunal 
which was so confused by false testimony and ignorant and worthless affidavits, that, 
while attempting to formulate measures for the protection of the seals, it legalized 
the very cause of their destruction. But the whitewash of respectability which was 
thus put upon pelagic sealing can not hide its true character. Judged by its methods 
and results, it is merely a species of legalized barbarism. Pelagic sealing is simply 
a public nuisance which can now only be disposed of by an international agreement. 
THE PROHIBITION OF PELAGIC SEALING TO AMERICANS. 
It is with a great sense of relief that we find ourselves able to record the recent 
action of Congress in the prohibition of the practice of pelagic sealing by our own 
citizens and the exclusion of skins of females from our markets. This step should 
have been taken long ago. It must be remembered that until the passage of this 
law' Americans as well as Canadians have been engaged in slaughtering the fur 
seals. Of the 87 vessels which took seals during the season of 1896, 21 were American. 
And not only have our citizens helped to destroy our own herd, but they have crossed 
the Pacific and have been instrumental in depleting the herd of friendly Russia. 
American enterprise has also had the leading part in the practical extermination of 
the fur-seal rookeries of the Kuril Islands, belonging to Japan. 
PELAGIC SEALING DISTINCTLY A CANADIAN INDUSTRY. 
Henceforth, however, our hands are clean and we can with dignity and assurance 
urge that other nations take steps to put an end to the business. Pelagic sealing— 
with its slaughter of gravid females and the starvation of their dependent young, 
with its waste of a noble and valuable animal life, with its threatened destruction 
of varied and important commercial enterprises and of the sole source of supply of a 
commodity of utility and value to mankind—is from this time on distinctly a Canadian 
industry and under the fostering care of Great Britain. If she permits its continuance, 
the odium must rest with her. 
' See text of this law in Appendix II to the report. 
