120 ALASKA FISHERIES AND FUR INDUSTRIES IN 1918. 
Paul 23 and St. George 12. It was customary in commercial sealin: 
throughout the leases 1871 to 1909 to close operations at the en 
of July, because the rigid discipline of the harem masters is then 
relaxed and cows wander in increased numbers to the hauling 
aes The danger of killing them after that date is greater than 
before. 
HERMAPHRODITE SEALS. 
In the 1918 killings two hermaphrodite seals were found on St. Paul 
Island. Both were too small to have begun the development of the 
outward appearance of the bull and were supposed to be 3-year-old 
males by the clubbers. The skull of one which was studied had the 
characteristics of both sexes while the only generative organs present 
were ovaries. 
THE 3-YEAR-OLD COWS. 
Since 1915 the loss of seals during.the first three years has been 
placed at 50 per cent. The result arrived at in 1918 is further 
evidence that this rate of loss is approximately correct. 
In 1917 there were estimated 128,024 breeding cows. By deducting 
10 per cent or 12,802 which have been lost due to old age there 
remain 115,222 of the 1917 herd in 1918. This figure deducted from 
the total number calculated for 1918 (142,915) leaves 27,693 to 
represent the increment of 3-year-old cows in this year. 
To get at the actual number of this class it is necessary to go back 
to 1915, when a complete pup count was made showing 103,527. If 
half of these were males and half females and all had lived, there 
would be 51,763 new cows in 1918. If half died, however, there would 
only be 25,881, a number so close to that calculated above, 27,693, as 
to be significant. The difference would be easily accounted for in 
many ways, Such as an annual variation of losses, inexact equality of 
births of sexes, etc. 
AVERAGE Harems ON ROOKERIES COUNTED IN 1918. 
Breeding} Harem | Average 
Rookery. cows. bulls. | harem. 
ST. PAUL ISLAND. 
BRCOL Ese at Same eee oe as Ree AS BS Ie SERIES COE SO 19,398 688 28. 19 
NUNS OODLE. ies sett ae. ara sees eet REECE - Seek dos ELL ewan Se ee. 512 25 20. 48 
PAPAGIN SUBD ioe pete ene ce mee we cose coke aul a acid ae nee See Le Se ee eee 536 27 19.85 
POlOvinw EE es a aes a ea ee 5,348 185 28. 88 
RIND Geil: AAS see eee ree, A: eee oS oe Ne As LO) Si ete We Ae REN 25, 789 925 27. 88 
ST. GEORGE ISLAND 
AAD ROL ee es ee cee ae ie PE eet ee Sore og iene Oe Re eee ee eee 806 43 18.74 
Southig 109. cere cee ea ee ah ae ee ees 61 8 rE 
Bast eet for gon aan op Re ede bd a aa eee ip Rie geen ga 2,120 99 21.41 
rs REE ERR: SOARES a ie to Spe 0 ME 7S 2, 987 150 19.91 
otal: bothiislands Fst cect Aer. ee SE Oe ee 28, 776 1,075 26. 76 
~ Ce ee ee eee 
