ALASKA FISHERY AIS^D FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1920. 109 



has been an actual decrease in the number of dead cows, and it con- 

 stitutes, along with the low death rate of pups, the strongest argu- 

 ment in favor of a reasonably large harem. 



In addition to the decrease in number of dead cows found, there 

 was a very noticeable decrease in the number of those which had 

 been bitten and torn by the bulls. In no instance was an injury seen 

 which was l^elieved to be serious. 



The closing of commercial operations on July 31 instead of Au- 

 gust 10 is even more necessary now than heretofore, and it is again 

 urged that this action be delayed no longer. It is well known that 

 up to 1910 the Government prohibited the leasing companies almost 

 every year from conducting sealing after July 81 on account of the 

 number of cows which wouhl otherwise be driven and unavoidably 

 killed. This was a very efficient and sensible regulation and should 

 by all means be inaugurated in the work of the Government. 



During the commercial operations of 1917, 1918, and 1919 it has 

 been pointed out many times that the resorting of the cows to the 

 hauling grounds of the bachelors after August 1 interfered con- 

 siderably with the work and caused the death of some of them. This 

 flocking of the females to the hauling grounds is due chiefly to the 

 fact that the breeding season has passed and they are free to move 

 wherever they will. ^Vhen bulls were abundant to replace each other 

 on the rookeries, they held the cows longer in the harems. But the 

 increase in the average harem in 1920 gave the cows a great deal 

 more freedom than they had had for three years. This was evi- 

 denced by their flocking to the hauling grounds in greatly increased 

 numbers. It was no uncommon thing on St. Paul for 250 cows to 

 come up in a single drive after August 1. And on St. George they 

 were so abundant that work was vei-y seriously hampered. Naturally 

 some of them were killed; not a large number, to be sure, but it is 

 impossible to conduct the killing with reasonable dispatch so that all 

 will be spared. Some accidents are unavoidable, because the 3-year- 

 olds of both sexes are almost indistinguishable even to the 

 practiced eye. The native workmen are ashamed of the work and 

 unless importuned will not report the killing of a cow. 



We may grant that the number of females killed by the extension 

 of the season to August 10 is insignificant. Their value to the herd 

 may not be as great as the increased revenue secured by the addi- 

 tional take of males: a simple calculation will demonstrate that. 

 But the driving of these several thousand mothers, heavy with milk, 

 is very inhumane to say the least. And if we may judge by the 

 effect of similar exertion upon domestic animals permanent injury 

 in many cases results. The long drives particularly tire them to the 

 point of exhaustion, sometimes even to death. In dry weather the 

 skin is worn from the flippers and leaves them raw or Ijleeding. All 

 of these details are better left untold, but are given in hopes that the 

 real importance of the situation will become apparent and that 1921 

 will see no driving permitted after July 31. We all of course know 

 that it is not necessary to drive after that date in order to reduce 

 the excess number of males satisfactorily. Forty years of com- 

 mercial work has demonstrated that point. 



