122 



THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIRILOF ISLANDS. 



STATISTICS OF THE ".>! (tlA. 



The annual killing of male life on the fur-seal islands during the period of the 

 first lease we find has averaged about 10.">,000 per year. The following table gives 

 the total killings of males for all purposes whatsoever for the period in question : 



Laud killing, lS?f>-1889. 



YMl.rMAI.'Y KKlUVTHiN <>F <,U<>TA IN 1X7IV-77. 



From an examination of this table we find that between the years 1871 and 1875, 

 inclusive, an average of 107,500 male seals were annually killed on the islands. In 

 1876-77 this average was reduced to 88,500. Some question had been raised by Cap- 

 tain Bryant, 1 then agent in charge of the islands, as to the effect of the killing of this 

 full quota. He had even recommended that it be reduced. This may have influenced 

 the contraction in the quota, but it was not insisted upon by the Government and was 

 voluntary on the part of the lessees. The fact that in 1878 killing was resumed and 

 continued at an average of 105,000 for four years shows clearly enough that the alarm 

 about the quota felt by Captain Bryant was without foundation. The temporary 

 reduction for the two years could not have influenced the herd. P>ut in these two 

 years we have a right to assume that at least 38,000 young males of the age of 3 

 years were allowed to escape and grow up as an addition to the reserve of bulls. 



VOLUNTARY REDUCTION IN 1882-83. 



In 1882 and 1883 we find a similar reduction to 88,700 of the quota of male lite 

 from the preceding average of 105,000. This contraction was, as we know, purely vol- 

 untary on the part of the lessees and due to the overstocked condition of the seal-skin 

 market. That it was not due to any scarcity of seals is clearly enough shown by the 

 fact that the killing was in 1884 resumed and continued at an average of 104,400 until 

 the year l^'.i. 



The point we wish to make clear is that the 38,000 males in this first extraordinary 

 reservation made in 1876-77, 3 years old at the time, were 7 years old, or ready for 

 harem duty in 1880-81, and 10 years of, age, or in their breeding prime in 1885-86, 

 when the decline in the herd was well begun. Likewise, the second reservation of 

 32,800 young bulls was ready to replenish the rookeries in 18S6-87, and they were 

 still in their prime in 1889 and subsequent years when the decline was in the height. 



NO DEARTH OF MALE LI1 K. 



That the young male life represented by these annual killings from 1871 to 1889 

 should have been produced upon these rookeries is in itself abundant proof that 

 there was no dearth of breeding males. In its prime i'5,o<)0 hulls were ample for the 



See extracts from the log of St. Paul, Pt. II, under dale of .June 10, July 2. r >, AugUHt 4, etc., 187".. 



