116 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 
AVERAGE HAREM IN 1920 FoR ALL ROOKERIES. 
: Breeding] Harem a werBee aoe 
ee cows. | bulls. | “i999, | “1919. 
ST. PAUL ISLAND. 
408 | 142.37] 129.79 
Woy oe GlaW ee, ae Se eas siadocaa aoc cgaamra er case coe uk omemoons 16, 399 423 138.77 126.19 
EIEIO ZA Da ope a Cac ccs a rae tyme ede sata ta nicl om ae ee eer ee 12,494 297 1 42, 07 129. 49 
TiADAATIMR COL a fo oe ee Se De tee ne er Ie See eee eee Emer | 532 28) 219.00 221.57 
TROL O WaT A eae ser ho SS See a are eg Minn RL ena (einer er a ence | 6, 006 177 2 33. 93 230.18 
POLO CU sie tee Sues Bea Wied ee an ase lace ne Neer ee ace 2, 573 . 86 229. 92 2 23. 01 
itt lePolovina! 2 house oss serese Sat eee ee eee eerie en eee ne 1,711 49 134. 92 131.66 
IMODIONE sac) eoe's sis amas alls ae us oe one Mae mete Meee ees asec enema | 2,936 97} 230.27 220.69 
Mostochini otk 3 ste c Go. Sock soa aienios Naticinioe as ode eterna | 32,857 725 1 45, 32 130. 74 
POta? | See Rss = eres ch wireline cae cies ae eee sees 143, 275 3, 542 40, 45 29, 28 
Totallufor rookenies COUNLeO ss ee ee asaaee = oe sereesesee tees | 12,388 402 30. 82 25.19 
IN OPE sie ahi isc bite ca eis ose seine seh nainas Case oeeme cee cine reels 9,126 199 | 145.86 139.12 
Staraya Artil 5, 944 112 153. 07 2 46.34 
Zapadni.... 907 27 233. 59 231.74 
South... 99 4) 224,75 2 13. 60 
East Reef. it | 2,571 67 | 238.37 231.56 
PASE CLITS Mee oe ntciten oes ve oem one ses REeeaoecees caaese eee ee 5, 605 115 148.74 | 1 42.00 
Ao) NIG. Sa, eI SD Wm ars Pai inane obs EA aE DS Sh 24, 252 524 46.28! 39.76 
Totalforrookeriescounted=2s-. 122-44 sees a2 cee eee ee 3,577 | 98 36. 50 | 39. 42 
Totalabothislands cesses seat eae eee eee eee 167, 527 4, 066 41.20} 30.47 
1 Estimate. 2 Pups counted. 
LOSSES OF BULLS AND YOUNG MALES. 
In 1911 and 1912, when legislation was proposed which would 
prohibit the killing of the surplus males of the fur-seal herd _on land, 
the principal objection raised was that a vast oversupply of breed- 
ing males would result. In view of the fact that commercial opera- 
tions were curtailed for six years, it will be profitable to review con- 
ditions from the standpoint of the effect of the class on the herd. 
The law which established the closed period of 1912 to 1917 became 
effective on August 24 of the former year. The action had been 
anticipated, however, and, since the intention of Congress was 
obvious, it was put into effect in the killing season of 1912. This 
made the closed period cover six seasons. It will be recalled that 
the herd had been reduced to its lowest point during American own- 
ership in 1911 through the activities of vessel killings at sea. The 
major portion of the pelagic catch consisted of females. The surplus 
males up to 1910 were taken on land by private corporations which 
had leased the privilege, and in 1910 and 1911 by the agents of the 
Government. Under those methods over 95 per cent of the males 
were removed and there were left for breeding an average of ap- 
proximately 1 male to 60 females. Investigators generally agreed 
that this ratio was sufficient. 
On account of the low figure to which the herd had been reduced, 
however, it was feared that the vitality of the species had been 
