86 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 
data may be obtained by reference to the Alaska fisheries and fur 
industries reports for the years since the branding was done. 
In order to add to the data already secured, it is the purpose of the 
Bureau to kill some of these male seals in each of the years they may 
continue to exist, but to insure an adequate remainder for observa- 
tion during that period it will probably be necessary to reduce the 
number to be killed to three or four animals 1n each season. 
CENSUS. 
Following the practice of previous years a census of the fur-seal 
herd was taken in the summer of 1920. Details are contained in the 
report, printed on pages 104 to 120, by Dr. G. Dallas Hanna, who has 
been in local charge of the census work for a series of years beginning 
in 1915. Edward C. Johnston, storekeeper on St. George Island, as- 
sisted in the actual census work in 1920 on both islands. The growth 
of the herd from year to year renders it increasingly difficult to 
enumerate the animals, but, on the other hand, the observations of 
each year add to the concrete information available as a basis of com- 
putation and enable the determination of relatively accurate per- 
centages of loss for the different age classes. 
The following is a comparative statement of the numerical strength 
of the various elements of the herd in the years 1912 to 1920, in- 
clusive: 
GENERAL COMPARISON OF RECENT CENSUSES OF THE SEAL HERD. 
Class of seals. 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 
1,358} 1,403] 1,559] 2,151] 3,500) 4,850] 5,344] 5,158] 4,066 
81,984 | 92)269 | 93,250 | 103,527 | 116,977 | 128,024 | 142,915 | 157,172 | 167,527 
Harem bulls. .-..-.--- 
Breeding cows. 3 
Surplus bulls. 
Edlebullst 22-2. : 113 105 172 673 2, 632 2, 706 2,444 2, 239 1, 161 
Young bulls (chiefly 
5-year-olds). ..-.--- 199 259 EG} ESAS Bon ae Soaceroso ore ssoscH See anosnsocoops-cclsenchcos 
6-year-old mal a 
5-year-old males...--- 1 y 
4-year-old males...--- 100 2, 000 9, 939 15, 848 | 15, 427 16, 631 7, 114 5, 747 5, 667 
\ a 2,000 | 10,000 13, 880 18,282 | 19,402 | 19,507 9,117 | 13,596 | 10,749 
11, 000 15, 000 17,422 | 23,990 | 24,169} 26,815 | 30,159 | 33,081 39, 111 
13,000 | 20,000 | 23,068 | 30,307 | 33,645 | 38,013 | 41,595 | 46,444 | 51,674 
2-year-old cows. 11, 000 15,000 | 17,422 | 23,990 | 24,245 | 26,917] 30,415 | 33,287 | 39,480 
Yearling cows.. .| 13,000 | 20,000 | 23,067 | 30,306 | 33,646 | 38,018 | 41,608 | 46,447 | 51, Osi 
PANS Bets aeicerele ase iei= 81,984 | 92,269 | 93,250 | 103,527 | 116,977 | 128,024 | 142,915 | 157,172 | 167,527 
Yearling males. 
Totaleeeeecasee 215, 738 | 268, 305 | 294,687 | 363,872 | 417,281 | 468,692 | 496,432 | 524,235 | 552,718 
SPECIMENS FOR SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES. 
For use in the preparation of a natural history group at the Amer- 
ican Museum of Natural History in New York, several specimens of 
fur seals were collected at the Pribilofs during 1920. Thirteen 
skins were furnished the museum, one from an adult bull and eight 
from pups, all found dead on St. Paul Island, and one from a pup 
found dead and three from cows unintentionally killed in the sealing 
work on St. George Island. The collection was appraised at $29, 
which amount was paid by the museum and properly deposited in the’ 
United States Treasury. 
