FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY. 93 
St. George Island—Continued. 
PR RINIEINS VORP <5 a a ene ade oinie nines «nm ab spine oh ea edenaneiee 6 
126 
Departures during year (to St. Paul Island)................-.+----.------ 3 
Total native resident population Uh Ey e22 9 A OS any eee cen ee ae 123 
Native at Salem Indian Training School at Chemawa, Oreg.-......-...-- 1 
Total Natives ACCLECIbeU be se ae Pee ee oon ccs coe oom oelee anes 124 
It will be noted that the total native population on both islands 
on March 31, 1918, was 322 and the total accredited to the islands 
was 335. 
FUR-SEAL HERD. 
QUOTAS FOR KILLING. 
The killing of seals for commercial purposes could have begun 
legally on August 25, 1917, upon the expiration of the closed season, 
but it is not practicable to take skins at that time of year. Later, 
after October 20, when the stagy period is over, a large number could 
not be secured because the annualsouthward migration was then well 
advanced. Therefore commercial operations opened in reality in 
1918. 
The establishment of the number and age of animals to be killed is 
placed by law in the hands of the Secretary of Commerce. Thus on 
April 11, 1918, the following telegraphic instructions were issued to 
the island agents: 
Secretary directs killing present year twenty-five thousand male seals three years 
old and upwards. Twenty thousand St. Paul and five thousand St. George. Make 
every practicable effort complete commercial killing by August tenth. Kill as many 
large seals as practicable, keeping in mind number which census report shows should 
be reserved each age class. Law requires reservation five thousand selected three- 
year-olds, which reservation should be made in ratio five St. Paul and one St. George. 
If conditions warrant, Department will instruct kill ten thousand additional seals. 
Therefore, keep Bureau fully informed regarding conditions bearing on availability 
seals and ability islands take increased number skins. 
Upon the receipt subsequently of favorable reports from the 
islands, on July 18 the quota was definitely fixed at 28,000 for St. 
Paul Island and 7,000 for St. George Island. The St. George quota 
was secured by August 10, and on October 14, it was increased to 
7,700 in order to provide food for the natives. It is not expected 
that the ratio of one on St. George to four on St. Paul can be main- 
tained indefinitely because the history of the herd and census reports 
show that this is not the actual proportion of the animals resorting 
to each island. 
KILLINGS OF SEALS. 
St. Paul Island.—During the calendar year 1918, there were killed 
on St. Paul Island 27,503 seals. These were handled in 76 separate 
drives beginning on January 14 and ending on December 12. 
St. George Island.—During the corresponding period 7,387 seals 
were killed on St. George Island. These were handled in 43 drives, 
beginning on June 3 and ending on November 19. 
160695°—20——23 
