STATISTICS OF LAND AND SEA KILLING. 



149 



Statistics regarding land and sea killing, 1871-1897. 



1 These figures refer only to the hauling grounds of St. Paul. 



3 These totals include all males killed for auy purpose on the islands. 



3 In 1876 the killiug wau closed at an unusual date, said to he on account of an exceptionally late season. 



4 Closed by order of the agent in charge. 

 5 Years of the modus vivendi. 



THE PERIOD FROM 1871-1882. 



For purposes of study we may divide this record into two sections, the first 

 covering the period to and including 1882. During this time we find that the number 

 of animals taken on land as well as at sea was each year relatively constant, the former 

 being maintained at a maximum, the latter at a minimum. We find that from 1874 to 

 the close of this period the requisite number of killable seals could be procured at such 

 an early date as to clearly indicate that no difficulty was experienced in tilling the 

 quota. During the whole of this time the number of drives and hauling grounds 

 driven from was uniform and normal. In short, all the evidence goes to show that the 

 herd was in a state of practical equilibrium, neither increasing nor diminishing to any 

 marked degree. The reduction of the number of animals killed on land in the last 

 year of this period has already been discussed in its appropriate place. It has no 

 significance here. 



THE GROWTH OF THE CATCH. 



It will be seen, however, in the record of pelagic sealing that from a normal catch 

 of slightly over 5,0'00, covering a period of eight years, it advanced to 8,000 in 1880 and 

 to 15,000 the closing year of the period. This latter fact is significant. 



RELATION OF GAINS AND LOSSES IN THE HERD. 



We have already shown that the condition of the fur-seal herd is determined by 

 the relation of its gains and losses. Its losses are of two kinds, natural and artificial. 

 We may class as natural those losses arising from old age, accidents of the sea, or the 



