CENSUS OF ROOKERIES, 1897. 



97 



THE AVERAGE HAREM OF KITOVI. 



Dividing this total of 5,289 by 179, the number of harems, we find the average 

 harem of Kitovi rookery to contain ^9.5 cows. This harem is applied to all the 

 rookeries on which only counts of harems were made. Where pups were counted, the 

 figures so obtained are used without change. The only difference in the method of 

 computing the census of 1897 from that of 1896 is in the dropping out of the 

 intermediate step of completing the provisional census of cows and afterwards 

 adding the necessary correction for absentees. This step, now that the conditions 

 are known, becomes superfluous. Constructed on this basis the following is the 

 completed census of breeding seals for the two islands for the season of 1897 : 



Census, 1897. 

 ST. PAUL. 



ST. GEORGE. 



RECAPITULATION. 



St. Paul ?,858 



St. George 560 



Total 4,418 



112,864 

 16, 352 



129, 216 



THE VALUE OF THE CENSUS FOR 1897. 



Whatever doubt or uncertainty may exist regarding the census of 1896 there is 



none with regard to that for 1897. No estimates were made. The count of harems 



was complete for every rookery. The count of pups was carefully and accurately 



made. While not claiming infallibility for these figures, the margin of error is slight. 



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