STATEMENTS OF FACTS. 185 



The natural losses from other causes are relatively small. 



7. Counts and estimates show that the number of breeding females bearing pups 

 on the rookeries of St. Paul and St. George in 1896 was about 157,000 and in 1897 

 about 130,000. 



8. On certain rookeries pups were counted during both seasons. Where 16,241 

 were found in 1896, 14,318 were found in 1897, a decrease of about 12 per cent. The 

 harems on all the rookeries were counted during both seasons. In 1896 there were 

 4,932; in 1897, 4,418, a decrease of 10.41 per cent. The cows actually present on 

 certain rookeries at the height of the season were counted both seasons. Where 

 10,198 were found in 1896, 7,307 were found in 1897, a decrease of 28.34 per cent. 



9. It is not possible to state absolutely the decline in the actual number of 

 breeding cows from 1896 to 1897, but it is not far from 15 per cent. 



10. The number of killable seals taken on the islands in 1897 shows a decrease of 

 about 30 per cent from the number taken in 1896. This represents approximately the 

 decrease in the 3-year-old breeders which entered the rookeries in 1897, the number 

 of males and females born being practically equal. 



11. Land killing is not now a factor in the decline of the herd, and has not been 

 since the islands came into the possession of the United States. It has not caused 

 injury to the breeding herd either by undue reduction in the number of males or by 

 impairing their virility, or in any other way. 



12. Land killing has tended to increase the size of the breeding herd by the 

 reduction of the number of adult bulls and their consequent fighting, which results 

 in the destruction of females and pups. 



13. No appreciable part of the decline of the herd is due to illegal killing or killing 

 in defiance of the regulations of the Paris award. 



14. The reduction in the breeding herd has been due to the killing of females at 

 sea, with the resulting starvation of nursing pups and the destruction of unborn pups. 



15. Pelagic sealing necessarily involves indiscriminate killing of males and 

 females. The greater proportion of the animals taken in the pelagic catch are females. 

 The statistics for the American catch, obtained by expert examination in the custom- 

 houses, show an average of 78 per cent for the years 1894, 1895, and 1896. The 

 examination of pelagic skins in London confirms this percentage. 1 



16. The natural increase of the breeding herd is about 16 per cent each year, being 

 one-half of the surviving 3-year-olds. The natural death rate from old age each year 

 is not far from 10 per cent. The death rate of adults from other causes can not be 

 accurately estimated. The killing of females by the hand of man therefore can not 

 reach 6| per cent of the total number each year without involving the decline of the 

 herd. If the herd is to be restored, the killing of female seals should not be permitted. 



17. As neither land killing nor sea killing now yields a profit for the money- 

 invested and for the money spent in protection, the fur-seal herd is therefore, from a 

 commercial point of view, virtually destroyed. But this has not involved the 

 biological destruction of the herd. Under wise protection it may regain its former 

 numbers. 



1 To this may be added the testimony of Mr. Halkett, obtaineds ince the original preparation of 

 this statement, showing the percentage of females in the Bering Sea catch for 1896 to be 84 per cent. 



