ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1924 

 Ages of seals killed on Pribilof Islands, calendar year 1924 



149 



' Cows unavoidably and accidentally killed and found dead. 



RESERVING OPERATIONS 



During the season 6,826 3-year-old male seals were reserved for 

 breeding purposes on St. Paul Island and 1,746 on St. George Island, 

 a total of 8,572. The reserved seals were marked by shearing a 

 patch of fur from the top of the head, thereby establishing their 

 identity as reserved animals. 



On St. Paul Island reserving operations began June 16 and were 

 concluded August 2, when 6,826 animals had been marked. Of the 

 animals marked by shearing, 1,000 were further marked by clipping 

 off the tips of both ears. 



On St. George Island operations began on June 12 and were con- 

 cluded on August 5, with 1,746 animals marked. 



Simultaneously with the marking of 3-year-old males, 3,718 4-year- 

 old males present in the drives also were marked by shearing — 2,891 

 on St. Paul Island and 827 on St. George. Separate record was 

 kept of the 4-year-olds that bore the iron brand used for marking 

 a portion of the 3-year-olds reserved in 1923. 



The season's reserving operations are shown in the following 

 tabulation : 



Branded 3-year-old and J^-y^O'T-old male seals forming part of breeding reserve, 1924 



WASHING AND BLUBBERING SEALSKINS 



Almost all the sealskins taken on St. Paul Island in 1924 were 

 washed and blubbered before being cured in salt. Through the 

 active sealing period 11 employees of the Fouke Fur Co. were present 

 for carrying on the work, and a number of Pribilof Islands natives 

 were instructed in the actual work of blubberins;. 



