98 ALASKA FISHERIES AND FUR INDUSTRIES IN 1918. 
in 1918 for the several sizes of skins which bear no age relation to the 
animals at all. The sizes of the grades were not changed. The fol- 
lowing table shows the equivalents. 
TRADE CLASSIFICATION OF SEALSKINS. 
Old names. New names. Lengths. 
Inches 
wins ates" “hist, Ratt Rick ee WikSis 0c d2a ap selon tenis eee eee Above 55 
i PS 220: Seaweeds ceeee aes > hanneebee 
Middlings and smails Hxtla Oxtra larger... occ sssn seman ee cnee 49 to 55 
Smalls * 2 he aeeoee ae l€clEioxtra IarpeJes 255s 04es ccd seetece aioe 46 to 48 
Large pups..... ae as -| Large........ PF 43 to 45 
Middling pups. Ss en .--| Mediums....... 39 to 42 
Sinall pups! clos. esas .--| Small mediums. 35 to 38 
xtra SMAPS | o<peecteesscasesbecns wank tnnni~ 56] sassine wa mrbadanude aakeesaules danni at 2s nn 
This terminology was used in the two public-auction sales at 
St. Louis in 1918 and was accepted by the trade without confusion. 
CENSUS. 
A census of the seal herd was taken in 1918 at the usual time by 
employees of the Bureau. An increase of the number of cows 
slightly greater than the normal which has prevailed for several years 
is encouraging. Slight differences in methods of computation have 
been instituted as the knowledge of death rates and other factors 
have required. Complete information on this subject is given in the 
report by G. Dallas Hania published herewith. 
ollowing is astatement showing the numerical strength of the herd 
in 1918 as compared with the six preceding years: 
GENERAL COMPARISON OF RECENT CENSUSES OF THE SEAL HERD, 
Class of seals. 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 
Harem bulls....... 2 1,403 | 1,559] 2,151] 3,500] 4,850] 5,344 
Breeding cows..... zu 4} 92,269 | 93,250 | 103,527 | 116,977 | 128,024 | 142,915 
Dlrplis DUNS Et ey Bee ee ne ae eee |e cee Se ee a eee ol a eee 8,977 | 17,110 
Tdlo\bulls... 223154 07s Ve peasy 105 172 673 | 2,632] 2,706] 2,444 
Young bulls (chiefly 5-year-olds)........ 199 259 1 658. )| ..0222<20-leests oon cclesesstcee eee 
G-year-old “males <).<./023 .2 2c een anoaeen| Nomesees = |<o-cesheoleesmoecs yooh ees 11,167} 15,397] 13,755 
S-yeRr-Old. males). S229 ue Ae ee eee ow Scan eee 11,271 | 15,494] 14,813] 11,941 
A-vear-oldsmales........252 sssseeeseeenes 100 2,000 9,939 | 15,848] 15,427] 16,631 7,114 
@-yenr-oldsmaleg:c.2ci5-5. 22.teel snes ee 2,000 | 10,000 | 13,880 | 18,282] 19,402] 19,507| 9,117 
2-year-old males. ......... 2.0 -beecerese- 11,000 | 15,000 | 17,422 ; 24,169] 26,815| 30,159 
Yearling vialess) (212% So sree thes 13,000 | 20,000 | 23,068] 30,307] 33,645] 38,013| 41,595 
2-yoar-Old Cowscn_ aes be see eset cee 11,000 | 15,000 | 17,422 : 24/245] 26,917] 30,415 
Vearling cowssdssccg ee ee cee 13,000 | 20,000] 23,067] 30,306] 33,646] 38,018] 41,608 
upset eee ae sy, 8! 81,984 | 92,269 | 93,250 | 103,527 | 116,977 | 128,024 | 142,915 
Potale ce. so desesne tot eres eae 215,738 | 268,305 | 294,687 | 363,872 | 417,281 | 468,692 | 496, 432 
SPECIMENS OF FUR SEALS FOR SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES. 
From time to time calls are made upon ‘the Bureau by scientific 
institutions for specimens of the Alaska fur seal for exhibition or 
other purposes. There is no authority in law whereby animals may 
be killed to supply this demand. A few cows and bulls and a con- 
siderable number of pups are found dead on the rookeries each year, 
however, and these afford a means of filling such requirements. 
