ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1931 



81 



It should bo stated tliat some of the seals recorded in the above 

 tabulation as 2-3'ear-olds or 4-year-olds probably were 3-year-olds. 

 Not all the male seals of a given age fall within the length limits 

 assigned for the males of that age. As far as possible, the killings in 

 1931 w^ere confined to 3-year-old males. 



RESERVING OPERATIONS 



The annual provision for future breeding stock was made in 1931 

 by reserving from killing an adequate number of 3-year-old male fur 

 seals. On St. Paul Island 3,570 animals and on St. George Island 

 1,656 were marked by shearing a patch of fur from the head. Details 

 in regard to the marking operations are as follows: 



Marking of 3-year-old male fur seals for breeding reserve, Pribilof Islands, 1931 



ST. PAUL ISLAND 



ST. GEORGE ISLAND 



COMPUTATION OF FUR-SEAL HERD 



The computation of the size of the fur-seal herd in 1931 was again 

 made by Supt. H. J. Christoffers, w^ho was assisted by R. B. Payne, 

 A. Christoffersen, and Lee C. McMillin. As of August 10 the total of 

 all classes was 1,127,082 — a numerical increase of 81,981 and a per- 

 centage increase of 7.84 over the figures for the preceding year. The 

 •detailed report will be found on pages 89 to 96 of this document. 

 Following is a comparative statement of the numerical strength of the 

 various elements of the fur-seal herd in the years 1920 to 1931, 

 inclusive : 



General comparison of computations of the seal herd on the Pribilof Islands, 1920 



to 1931 



Classes 



Harem bulls 



Breeding cows.. 



Surplus bulls 



Idle bulls.. 



♦6-year-old males. 

 .5-year-old males. 

 -4-year-old males. 

 :3-y ear-old males. 

 2-year-old males. 

 Yearling males.. 

 2-y ear-old cows.. 

 Yearling cows... 

 Pups... 



Total 552,718 581,443 



1920 



4,066 



167, 527 



6,115 



1,161 



4.153 



5,007 



5,667 



10, 749 



39, 111 



51,074 



39. 480 



51,081 



167, 527 



1921 



3, 



176, 



3, 



3, 



4, 



6, 



14, 



41, 



50, 



43, 



54, 



176, 



1922 



3,562 



185,914 



2,346 



508 



3,771 



6, OSO 



11,807 



7,459 



40, 920 



52, 988 



46, 280 



57,413 



185, 914 



604, 962 



3,412 



197, 659 



1,891 



312 



4,863 



10, 612 



5,710 



22, 786 



43, 112 



55, 769 



48, 801 



60, 422 



197, 659 



653, 008 



3,516 



208, 396 



2,043 



390 



8,489 



5,132 



18, 670 



21,551 



45, 685 



59.291 



51,359 



64, 240 



208, 396 



697, 158 



1925 



3,526 



226, 090 



3,558 



311 



4,105 



16, 792 



18. 692 



21, 185 



43,515 



52, 091 



49, 786 



57, 309 



226, 090 



723, 050 



