FUR-SEAL CENSUS, PRIBILOF ISLANDS, 1918. 121 
Tue AVERAGE Harem IN 1918 For Att ROOKERIES. 
—————_—_—_—_—_—_—_—_————_—_——_—————————==—=zx[{_aL-==_a"=a=_>_E=a{__™==a={_=L"S=anRnan"iean'a=a{e=E=EaejEes=aEe=ae=ee=ae_eleloe_eh_a_la_aaaE]_E=]E~_———————SS==—e———eEE—_—_—__ 
Breeding} Harem | Average 
Rookery. cows. bulls. harem. 
8ST. PAUL ISLAND. 
MO Vile nieiscsch eb seb hele aca etna eeeee Sem eaaclain.e Mhletita ns disratcanininle wets Wbiso cA © 2, 540 127 a 20.00 
APM TNs sec caso eco nema e ate oeecre ERR grasa ae 2, 235 100 | @ 22.35 
AGED ATCT Sse hates cic see eed eens eee ee eeceehehatenes 9, 486 306| 31.00 
TAPES 1) a ees a oe ee RS en EE ieee Sore eee ee 792 36 a 22.00 
PET A a se i Oe a a Sate RR Se 19, 398 688 28.19 
EVP eee eee eee ea Sotnng 2c sthe es SSe mick nee ama’ cae oletole = 6,325 230 @ 27.50 
PAO DODE omens eck, cornet cee Smee cn odes Ros Sms de cael nce aes cee eee 1 25 20. 48 
ManispOlipe saeee ee ee eee oe fate eye Pays ey AER eb 16, 725 625 | 4 26.76 
UCLA GME te ee ee et Ieee Se ONS oe Saeed hic ae wate ac tee sees 11, 460 494 @ 23.19 
PEIPULO LA AGIN. cons customs « SE Shee os Does ton sean shbicb e aethce ss kewae oft 9,089 343 @ 26.49 
AR TPAIDIMERE Oe Sep eee hea re Sasns oe ae a oe eb eae eee aes ae Deere ss See dee 6 27 19. 85 
Mvareeeee ek tee Che ee ene oh JO ek aki veered ah ste wate dole oa coerce das 5, 343 185 28. 88 
PRGIOWALANCALIINS: Fen eee ee coe SR ae ie pies ae ee ee aes fe AN) ay 1, 882 @ 20. 23 
EN HORE DIO VATIEY (chi 8o dots cere neta L bare setae to eiee ses gam an sweet Sew 1,491 52 @ 28. 67 
MEOTIONA pre.c Sarclecol ~ daan sos cstee aback Mens seks wees dR aasa does t eels 3,335 145 @ 23.00 
WIOSPOCHIN ee esc dete saci naomi ee deans hot Salah baisshwoas seicee een mee eee 31, 468 1, 134 @ 27.74 
pial <setee eee sees e myet Oph CTsER aS eter tay Sy Se 122, 617 4,610 26. 59 
ST. GEORGE ISLAND. 
GH Somer lec ect cose So amce ee hk oes Gueae ee Oe Set OR ERe due Ube ung aes 7,011 262 a 26.75 
SUE GRE 2s) La eg oe POS oe oes Seas a i 5, 440 160 @ 34.00 
IAT tos Sate Sia at iS dle an See hela codes Ads tip dante = cildde aoe ek GEE bse aoee 806 18. 74 
jSLo TELE dh ae aS, SS eee aie Ng eS ee re eee 61 8 7. 62 
WEAN G tees POC LeS Jock ee SL REA ESSENSE OEE TOE EY Gea 2,120 9 21.41 _ 
RIESE ORES es sete Cate ee SN nice BU aI aoe oman abe ar 4, 860 162 a30. 00 
Motels: 9 epetss. - f5sc54 6 Ree eS feeder eee = RSME N Ge o CCeR, 20, 298 734 27. 65 
FLOVAL DOLD ISIARGM= wee pgaee te: Ses seb oo Nae cook eeeecagkee ccoee cue 142,915 5, 344 26. 74 
a Estimate. 
AGES OF COWS. 
The maximum age which the female seal attains is not known at 
present, but this continues to be one of the most important unsolved 
roblems in connection with the herd. No opportunity to gather 
information upon the subject has been overlooked. 
Branding of female pups was first undertaken in 1896 by the Jor- 
dan Commission. It had as its object in those days the making of 
the skins of the femalesealsofsuchsmall value that it would not be 
profitable for pelagic sealers to continue in business. It was believed 
at first that the results to be obtained were of sufficient value to war- 
rant the continuation of the process for a considerable period of 
years; accordingly instructions were issued, and the branding con- 
tinued up to and including the season of 1902. The derival of im- 
portant biological information from these branded animals seemed 
to be an overlooked possibility. As a measure of protection to the 
female seals it was a failure. 
In 1896, 377 pups were branded; 124 of these had three bars 
across the back and one down the center, 191 had a single bar across 
the back, and 62 had this and three bars across the back. In 1897, 
847 were branded: with three bars across the back, 1,033 had two 
bars, and 5,498 had one bar. Thereafter the single bar was used 
entirely, with the exception of 1898, when 300 were branded with a 
diagonal bar across the back. The total number branded during any 
of the years after 1897 can not be given, because the figures for St. 
George Island are lacking, but from 1898 to 1902 the numbers 
branded on St. Paul Island were secured from the island log. 
