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U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



AGE CLASSES 



The age class of a male seal belongiiis: to the Pribilof Islands herd is 

 determined from the length of its body. The classification was 

 derived from measurements of a large number of pups branded in 

 1912 and killed in subsequent years. The limits of the various age 

 classes are shown in the table following: 



Age classes of male seals, Pribilof Islands 



Ages of seals killed on Pribilof Islands, calendar year 1929 

 [On basis of classification shown in preceding table] 



1 Cows accidentally and unavoidably killed. 



It should be stated that some of the seals recorded in the above 

 tabulation as 2-year-olds or 4-year-olds probably were 3-year-olds. 

 Not all the male seals of a given age fall \sdthin the length limits 

 assigned for the males of that age. As far as possible the kilhngs in 

 1929 were confined to 3-year-old males. 



RESERVING OPERATIONS 



Since the killing of fur seals at the Pribilof Islands is confined as far 

 as possible to 3-year-old males, the reservation of males of this age 

 practically insures their protection from Idlhng operations. In 1929, 

 8,085 3-year-old males were marked for the reserve by shearing a 

 patch offur. The number marked on St. Paul Island was 6,430, and 

 on St. George Island 1,655. Two hundred of those sheared on St. 

 Paul Island were also branded with a hot iron for special observation 

 later. 



