102 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



Though there was an expansion of harem areas this season, it was 

 not to such a great extent as during the previous two years. Instead 

 there was a considerable increase in the number of harems in the areas 

 previously occupied. The seals prefer to huddle together as thicldy 

 as possible until it is absolutely necessary to move farther back from 

 the more densely populated portions of the rookery. 



It is very noticeable that there is less fighting and less viciousness 

 among the bulls in densely populated areas. The bulls in these areas 

 pay comparatively little attention to the cows, while the bulls on 

 sparsely populated areas or in places where there is a single small 

 harem are continually worrying the cows. A harem on the edge of 

 Ardiguen rookery, considerably separated from the main harem area, 

 contained seven cows all badly mutilated by the bull to such an 

 extent that it was doubtful whether four of the cows would survive. 

 To a more or less extent this is true of all single harems or in sparsely 

 populated areas. It is surprising how little serious fighting actually 

 occurs in thickly populated areas. 



With a large number of idle and surplus bulls it would seem that 

 considerable serious fighting would occur. There is the usual amount 

 of bullying, but in proportion to the number of animals present there 

 is no more serious fighting with the present number of idle bulls than 

 occurred when there was an actual shortage of bidls. There is com- 

 paratively no more fighting on rookeries where there is a surplus of bulls 

 than occurs on rookeries where there is a shortage of bulls. 



In the early part of the season there is a surplus of bulls attached 

 to each rookery. All of these idle bulls do not, however, go on the 

 rookeries proper and take positions at the same time. Sufficient 

 numbers, however, assume positions to take care of the early onrush 

 of cows. Later, as the early populated portions fill up and the rook- 

 ery area expands, more and more of the surplus bidls will attach 

 themselves to a rookery and become idle and then harem bulls. 

 These surplus and idle bulls do not cause any particular trouble to 

 the harem bulls. They seem to know that the harem areas will later 

 expand sufficiently to provide for their wants. Sm-plus bidls do, 

 however, wander continuously from one rookery to another or from 

 one portion of a rookery to another looking for favorable positions. 

 If there are a number of idle bulls between them and the harems, they 

 find what appears to be a favorable place near a bull that has accum- 

 ulated a harem. 



It is interesting to note that even during the time when the bull 

 census is taken, there is a large number of robust, huskj^ older bulls 

 on the haiding grounds while good-sized harems are held by con- 

 siderably younger bidls. Now and then, one will see a small, pug- 

 nacious 7 or 8 year old bull holding a good-sized harem. 



During the period when the census was taken, a number of iron- 

 branded 10-year-old bulls (branded 1923) were still to be found among 

 the surplus bulls on the hauling grounds. 



The l^rge number of surplus bulls appearing on hauling grounds 

 during the period when the census of bulls was taken, indicated that 

 the herd is in an extremely healthful condition and that ample males 

 have been reserved for breeding purposes. These bulls are required to 

 take care of the virgin cows. It might appear to the casual observer 

 that more have been reserved than necessary, but when it is considered 

 that approximately 72,000 virgin females were due at the islands this 



