ALASKA. 
48 
100,000 did not, at first, appear to lead to any diminution in the 
numbers of the herd; and it was only in the year 1890, or a few 
years prior to that time, that a diminution in the numbers of the 
herd was first observed. This diminution was at that time attrib¬ 
uted to causes of which I shall presently say something. 
Such w r as the industry established by the United States. It 
was a very beneficial industry—beneficial, in the first instance, to 
herself. She had adopted the practice of leasing these islands 
upon long terms—twenty years—to a private corporation; and 
those leases contained an obligation to pay a large annual sum in 
the shape of a revenue tax and a gross sum of some $60,000 as 
rent. In addition to that, the lessees were required by the terms 
of the lease to pay to the United States Government a certain 
sum upon every seal captured by them, which, of course, resulted 
in the enjoyment by the United States of a still larger revenue. 
It was beneficial to the lessees, for it is to be supposed, and such 
is the fact, that they were enabled to make a profit notwith¬ 
standing the large sums they were compelled to pay to the 
United States Government upon the seal skins secured by them. 
But while it was profitable to the United States and profitable to 
the lessees, I may say—and this is what at all times I wish to 
impress upon this Tribunal—it was still more important and 
beneficial to the world at large. The fur seal is one of the boun¬ 
ties of Providence, bestowed, as all the bounties of Providence 
are, upon mankind in general, not for the benefit of this partic¬ 
ular nation or that particular nation, but for the benefit of all; 
and all the benefit, of course, which mankind can get from that 
blessing is to secure the annual taking, use, and enjoyment of 
the increase of the animal. That is all they can obtain from it. 
If they seek to obtain more, it is an abuse of the blessing, involv¬ 
ing destruction — necessary destruction — and they soon deprive 
themselves of the benefit altogether. 
This, therefore, was the benefit to mankind which was made pos- 
