166 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



BULLS 



The harem and idle bulls were counted on all rookeries except 

 Sivutch, weather conditions preventing a count there. Sivutch 

 rookery is situated on Sea Lion Rock, a short distance from St. Paul 

 Island, and on a clear day the general condition of the rookery can 

 be seen. There is no doubt but that it is increasing in the same 

 proportion as the other rookeries. 



As the bull count was made on the various rookeries shortly after 

 killing drives had been made from the hauling grounds, the surplus 

 bulls were not counted. In most cases they were driven in v/ith 

 the bachelors or driven into the water as a result of the drive. The 

 idle bulls counted were those around the margin of the harem area 

 actively watching for an opportunity to secure cows. 



Harem and idle bulls and percentage of idle bulls to harem, hulls compared to average 



harem, 1924 



' Estimated. 



AVERAGE HAKEM 



The number of harems on St. Paul Island increased from 3,051 in 

 1923 to 3,127 in 1924, and on St. George Island from 361 in 1923 to 

 389 in 1924. On Ardiguen rookery, St. Paul Island, there was an 

 increase in harem bulls amounting to nearly 30 per cent. The idle 

 bulls showed a corresponding increase. The total harems on the 

 two islands was 3,516. 



The percentage of idle to harem bulls on St. Paul Island was 9.93 

 in 1923 and 11.99 in 1924; on St. George Island it was 2.50 in 1923 

 and 3.86 in 1924. For both islands the percentage increased from 



