ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1920. 109 
has been an actual decrease in the number of dead cows, and it con- 
stitutes, along with the low death rate of pups, the strongest argu- 
ment in favor of a reasonably large harem. 
In addition to the decrease in number of dead cows found, there 
was a very noticeable decrease in the number of those which had 
been bitten and torn by the bulls. In no instance was an injury seen 
which was believed to be serious. 
The closing of commercial operations on July 31 instead of Au- 
gust 10 is even more necessary now than heretofore, and it is again 
urged that this action be delayed no longer. It is well known that 
up to 1910 the Government prohibited the leasing companies almost 
every year from conducting sealing after July 31 on account of the 
number of cows which would otherwise be driven and unavoidably 
killed. This was a very efficient and sensible regulation and should 
by all means be inaugurated in the work of the Government. 
During the commercial operations of 1917, 1918, and 1919 it has 
been pointed out many times that the resorting of the cows to the 
hauling grounds of the bachelors after August 1 interfered con- 
siderably with the work and caused the death of some of them. This 
flocking of the females to the hauling grounds is due chiefly to the 
fact that the breeding season has passed and they are free to move 
wherever they will. When bulls were abundant to replace each other 
on the rookeries, they held the cows longer in the harems. But the 
increase in the average harem in 1920 gave the cows a great deal 
more freedom than they had had for three years. This was evi- 
denced by their flocking to the hauling grounds in greatly increased 
numbers. It was no uncommon thing on St. Paul for 250 cows to 
come up in a single drive after August 1. And on St. George they 
were so abundant that work was very seriously hampered. Naturally 
some of them were killed; not a large number, to be sure, but it is 
impossible to conduct the killing with reasonable dispatch so that all 
will be spared. Some accidents are unavoidable, because the 3-year- 
olds of both sexes are almost indistinguishable even to the 
practiced eye. The native workmen are ashamed of the work and 
unless importuned will not report the killing of a cow. 
We may grant that the number of females killed by the extension 
of the season to August 10 is insignificant. Their value to the herd 
may not be as great as the increased revenue secured by the addi- 
tional take of males; a simple calculation will demonstrate that. 
But the driving of these several thousand mothers, heavy with milk, 
is very inhumane to say the least. And if we may judge by the 
effect of similar exertion upon domestic animals permanent injury 
in many cases results. The long drives particularly tire them to the 
point of exhaustion, sometimes even to death. In dry weather the 
skin is worn from the flippers and leaves them raw or bleeding. All 
of these details are better left untold; but are given in hopes that the 
real importance of the situation will become apparent and that 1921 
will see no driving permitted after July 31. We all of course know 
that it is not necessary to drive after that date in order to reduce 
the excess number of males satisfactorily. Forty years of com- 
mercial work has demonstrated that point. 
