FUR-SEAL CENSUS, PRIBILOF ISLANDS, 1918. 121 
Ture AVERAGE Harem IN 1918 For Att ROOKERIES. 
————ooeeeOOeOOOeeeeeeeeeeeeee=s®«®@onanaganaqaqoaqaaaananaeaesea—aeeeeae=sesS0eeos=j{(0_«<—_“»«wmomm9m—e—e——«$—=$aqwmeoOoaoOonm@nM=q$msaRwnmamya9aoO“\—“——— 
Rookery. Breeding} Harem | Average 






cows. bulls. harem. 
ST. PAUL ISLAND. 
2,540 127 a 20.00 
2, 235 100 @ 22.35 
9, 486 306 a 31.00 
792 36 a 22.00 
19, 398 688 28. 19 
6, 325 230 @ 27.50 
51 25 20. 48 
16,725 625 | 4 26.76 
iTS CER ono Ges Slenec tar dee Gans Macken eee Saves Hncee See Sar eEedioss 11, 460 494 a 23.19 
Whittle: AaAdnis 4 a elk eles SUE Cee SR EE SPSS EET ee teach s soe ease as 9,089 343 a 26. 49 
Fama RCCL shen 4s cee een Se eae eases enone ene eee soy = 536 27 19. 85 
PGI GW eas soe ether ee ece me ictcletarleltetoe dactataleitewiciae mice cerntewlaaelste 5, 348 185 28. 88 
RolovinsClittse< 8 Seek ee ee eee eee Mes eileen ciscamaesis 1, 882 93 a@ 20. 23 
iljpnalietn baba eterna eee Be ode Mat OS Cee th tae Rat aA a oll mie er ere 1,491 52 @ 28. 67 
IMIG) Oval ae oe kine setodoe o boda 4 sos 0448 oe Seo 405 ees seer ontboseerentserortsece 3, 335 145 @ 23. 00 
WOoStGC Reser ea soon soe Banos lens edna ee iot cam asvaclee bee ee sss 31, 468 1, 134 @ 27.74 
MR GTAP ROS e ie ace} oe. 5 Saal acigd fnew eerelcseiaes cae ce pebaies oguee once 122, 617 4,610 26. 59 
i} 
ST. GEORGE ISLAND. 
IN OxGhiose saan cce ose canes heb bemck Comme ee behe tne emenates eat daiacs® 7,011 262 @ 26.75 
Parc y ce Atle etee 2 test peta So cawice eres setae he wae ee oe ce teen Salter 5,440 160 @ 34.00 
SRS ete - PROBE ee coe Bile eer ts Se ERE ee at ROGUE - Sea CREE ae ae ote tee 806 43 18. 74 
pester es ae 8 oe ee a ak dae ce See eye ae ieee aces 61 8 7. 62 
ISS Gi ees eee tee Se Cae ee SEE |e Mahe REM osce ocoueteeee se 2, 120 99 21. 41 
SRS EUG HESE Pon cts eters ce tine Soc be dace cdo bee ca binw Sates Sadaaeeateeen st 4,860 162 a30. 00 
otal 2st S |. Pe ROR ee ee 2c A 20, 298 734 27. 65 
—— eS ee 
otal: Doth islands: sepensassne to 5 eee eos cae tetas Teeth ose caes 142,915 5,344 26.74 

a Estimate. 
AGES OF COWS. 
The maximum age which the female seal attains is not known at 
present, but this continues to be one of the most important unsolved 
roblems in connection with the herd. No opportunity to gather 
information upon the subject has been overlooked. 
Branding of female pups was first undertaken in 1896 by the Jor- 
dan Commission. It hall as its object in those days the making of 
the skins of the femaleseals of suchsmall value that it would not be 
profitable for pelagic sealers to continue in business. It was believed 
at first that the results to be obtained were of sufficient value to war- 
rant the continuation of the process for a considerable period of 
years; accordingly instructions were issued, and the branding con- 
tinued up to and including the season of 1902. The derival of im- 
portant biological information from these branded animals seemed 
to be an overlooked possibility. As a measure of protection to the 
female seals it was a failure. 
In 1896, 377 pups were branded; 124 of these had three bars 
across the back and one down the center, 191 had a single bar across 
the back, and 62 had this and three bars across the back. In 1897, 
847. were branded: with three bars across the back, 1,033 had two 
bars, and 5,498 had one bar. Thereafter the single bar was used 
entirely, with the exception of 1898, when 300 were branded with a 
diagonal bar across the back. The total number branded during any 
of the years after 1897 can not be given, because the figures for St. 
George Island are lacking, but from 1898 to 1902 the numbers 
branded on St. Paul Island were secured from the island log. 
