ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1934 67 



SEALING PRIVILEGES ACCORDED ABORIGINES 



Under the provisions of the North Pacific Sealing Convention of 

 July 7, 1911, Indians and other aborigines dwelling on the coasts of 

 the waters designated by the convention may take fur-seal skins 

 under limited conditions. In 1934 there were taken and duly authen- 

 ticated by officials of the respective Governments 290 fur-seal skins, 

 of which 34 were taken by Indians under the jurisdiction of the 

 United States and 256 by Indians of Canada. Reports have also 

 been received of the authentication of 6 additional skins, 3 from male 

 and 3 from female seals, taken in 1933 by Indians of the State of 

 Wasliington. These, together with the number previously reported, 

 make a total of 98 skins taken in that year by Indians under the 

 jurisdiction of the United States. The details for 1934 are as follows: 



Washington. — Twenty-three sealskins taken by Indians of Washing- 

 ton were authenticated. Of these, 6 were from male and 17 from 

 female seals. The skins were taken by Indians of La Push and Neah 

 Bay in the months from February to May, inclusive, and were 

 authenticated by Paul E. Thompson, special agent of the Bureau, 

 and by N. O. Nicholson, superintendent of the Taholah Indian Agency, 

 Hoquiam, Wash. 



Alaska. — Eleven sealskins taken by natives of Sitka were authen- 

 ticated by. Warden Donald S. Haley. Of these skins, 3 were from 

 male seals and 8 from females. The seals were taken in the waters 

 off Biorka Island in the months of April and May. 



British Columbia. — An official report received by the Bureau stated 

 that 256 fur-seal skins were taken by Indians along the British 

 Columbia coast in 1934. 



JAPANESE SEALSKINS DELIVERED TO THE UNITED STATES 



The treaty of July 7, 1911, for the protection of fur seals of the 

 North Pacific Ocean provides that the United States shall receive 

 10 percent of the fur-seal skins taken annually from the Japanese 

 herd. In accordance wdth that provision 200 sealskins were allotted 

 to the United States as its share of the take on Robben Island in 

 1934. They were received by the Department's selling agents at 

 St. Louis, Mo., on December 18, 1934. 



COMPUTATION OF FUR SEALS, PRIBILOF ISLANDS, 1934 



By Harry J. Christoffers 



In order to determine whether sufficient male seals are being 

 reserved for breeding purposes, a census of harem and idle bulls is 

 taken annually at the Pribilof Islands. Using this census as a basis, 

 and estimating the number of cows at the islands by applying the 

 rate of increase ascertained by actual counts of pups through a series 

 of years, the average harem is determined. 



The size of the average harem should be suitable to provide for a 

 maximum increase in the growth of the herd. When the average 

 is maintained between 40 and 45 it is safe to assume that sufficient 

 animals have been reserved for breeding purposes. If the average 

 is much less than 40 there is a question whether the number of males 



