J. PISCICULTURE AND THE FISHERIES. 435 



CATCH OF FUR SEALS IX 1872. 



Very gratifying reports have been furnished by Captain 

 Bryant, the United States officer in charge of the fur-seal isl- 

 ands in the Behring Sea, of the number and condition of the 

 seals during the present season. Shortly after the cession of 

 these islands by Russia to the United States, fears were en- 

 tertained that these animals would leave the islands on ac- 

 count of the indiscriminate slaughter to which they were 

 subjected. But the enactment of wholesome laws by the 

 United States on this subject, and the vigilant care exercised 

 by Captain Bryant over the operations of the fur companies, 

 have resulted not only in bringing the number back to the 

 normal average, but in carrying it higher than was ever known 

 before. Of the 100,000 authorized to be taken, 95,000 had 

 been secured before the 25th of July without materially af- 

 fecting the number ; and there are so many pups of twelve 

 months old, which will be fit to kill in another season, that it 

 is thought probable the extension of the limitation of capture 

 may be necessary to prevent an overweening increase. 



MARKING WHITEFISH. 



Mr. George Clark, of Ecorse, Michigan, on the 14th of May, 

 18*72, marked a number of whitefish by inserting a brass ring 

 into the adipose dorsal (the small fleshy fin just in front of 

 the tail), and connecting this by means of a second ring with 

 a piece of brass about the size of a ten-cent piece, the object 

 in view being to identify them if again caught. The weight 

 of each fish was about a pound and a half when they were 

 set free ; and Mr. Clark now has issued a printed request to 

 fishermen who may recapture any of the fish thus marked, to 

 send them, with the tags, to Crowell & Co., or St. John & 

 Buck, Toledo; Messrs. Paxton, of Monroe ; James Craig, A. M. 

 Camfau, C. Hurlburt, or J. P. Clark, of Detroit ; B. Reaume, 

 of Springw T ells ; George Clark, of Ecorse ; or Mr. Reaume, of 

 Grosse Isle, stating when and where caught ; or, if this can 

 not be done, to send the exact length and weight of the fish, 

 with the tags, by mail. The object of this is to ascertain the 

 rate of growth of the fish during any interval which may 

 elapse between the time of marking and the date of recap- 

 ture. 



