FUE-SEAL INDUSTRY. 85 



It will be noted that the quota provided for the killing of a large 

 number of seals 6 years of rge and upwards. Tlie five years of 

 restricted killing of seals, from August 25, 1912, to August 24, 1917, 

 provided for by the act approved August 24, 1912, giving effect to the 

 North Pacific Sealing Convention of July 7, 1911, had resulted in the 

 accumulation of a large number of males far in excess of the number 

 required to maintain the breeding strength of the herd at a maximum. 

 Furthermore, it was felt that this surplus accumulation of males 

 meant not only a loss of revenue to the Government through failure 

 to market as many of the pelts as possible, but through damnge to the 

 herd itself on account of the increased fighting on the part of the male 

 seals. It had always been believed that the pelts of older males 

 taken after the development of the so-called wig were practically 

 useless to fm-riers. Fortunately, experiments conducted at the new 

 dressing and dyeing plant at St. Louis on a limited number of large 

 skins taken at the Pribilofs had demonstrated that a skin from a 

 large seal could be dressed and dyed in such a manner that it com- 

 manded almost as great a market value as skins from 3 and 4 year old 

 seals. Under these conditions it was deemed highly desirable to 

 include a considerable number of large seals in the quota for 1919. 



In establishing the quota it was realized that the inclusion of 

 17,000 seals 6 years old or older would involve work possibly beyond 

 the facilities of the Bureau to accomplish. The killing and skinning 

 of a small seal and the curing of its skm is an easy task compared with 

 similar operations in respect to a full-grown bull seal. It was also 

 known that a further difficulty would be encountered by reason of the 

 fact that surplus large males would be found on the hauling grounds in 

 greatest abundance only in the early part of the season, being less and 

 less in evidence there as the season proceeded. It was thought best, 

 however, to fix the quota at the figm-es which the interests of the 

 service demanded and to accomplish as much as possible under the 

 circumstances. 



Tlii'ough the year 1919 there were killed 7,731 seals 6 years old and 

 over. While the number taken was very much below the number 

 planned, it is believed that much good has been accomplished in the 

 way of reducing the number of surplus males and in affording the 

 means for increasing largely the Government's revenue from the 

 Pribilofs. 



KILLINGS OF SEALS. 



St. Paul Island. — During the calendar year 1919 there were killed 

 on St. Paul Island 24,053 seals. Aside from a few seals killed for 

 food and for scientific experimental purposes, they were obtained in 70 

 drives, the first on April 5 and the last on December 18. 



St. George Island. — During the calendar year 1919 there were 

 killed on St. George Island 3,768 seals. With the exception of a few, 

 these were secured in 38 drives, the first on June 3 and the last on 

 November 7. 



The total number of seals killed on both islands in the calendar year 

 1919 was 27,821. The tables following show details in regard to the 

 killings in 1919. 



