492 APPENDIX. 



There is not the slightest foundation for the idea that "reckless 

 hunting of the fur seal by inexperienced hands will have the effect of 

 driving him to other shores," nor is there the slightest foundation for 

 the story that the seals have ever, in whole or in part, deserted the 

 American islands to take refuge on the Commander islands. The two 

 herds are wholly distinct and have been so for centuries. The Kuril 

 herd is distinct from both the others. 



Hiram Ketchum, 1868: Pages. 



The idea that the first males are sentinels or scouts, who report to 

 the main body, is one naturally suggested by their behavior, but it has 

 no foundation in fact. 



E. C. Jordan, 1869 : Page 11. 



The number of fur seals taken on St. Paul and St. George in 1868 is 

 here underestimated at 140,000. A closer estimate places the number 

 at about 300,000. 



S. N. Buynitzky, 1870 : Page 18. 



It is not probable that the fur seals avoid the sandy beaches on 

 account of the danger of the surf to their young. The animals prefer 

 the rocks because they sink in the sand when walking, and because 

 rocks do not become filthy. 



It is not probable that females recognize their former mates, or at 

 least that they have any preference for them. For their former stations 

 both males and females seem to show some preference. 



The average size of the harem is about thirty females rather than 

 ten. As not more than half the females are ever present at one time, 

 the count of those in sight is misleading. It is still currently believed 

 by the natives that the skin of an overheated animal is worthless 

 because the fur is liable to fall out. We have been unable to verify 

 this statement and doubt its truth. 



The statement that "thousands of old bulls encumber the rookeries" 

 indicates that at that time male seals on the islands were, as now, in 

 excess of the females. Few of these are, however, really decrepit, as in 

 general only the strong return in the spring from the winter migrations. 



Charles Bryant, 1871; Page 29. 



It is true that the breeding males occupy the rookeries " without 

 leaving their places until the end of July;" but the females come and 

 go regularly from the feeding grounds. 



It is not clear how Captain Bryant arrives at the conclusion that the 

 conditions of 1871 showed " a decrease in the number of females * * * 

 equal to 10 per cent of the two former years" (1869-70). Undoubtedly 

 the herd suffered a natural loss at sea as indicated by him, but this 

 loss was a customary one and was compensated for by the accession of 

 3-year-old females as breeders. His suggestion of possible necessity 

 for restricting the number of jwung males to be taken is of course 

 groundless. The killing of males could not have any influence on the 

 increase or decrease of the herd until at least five years after the kill- 

 ing was done. 



The fact that a steady increase of females is noted and that the herd 

 continued to yield its full quota of 100,000 skins for fifteen years after 

 shows that the decrease here noted did not exist. 



