6 ALASKA FUR-SEAL ROOKERIES, 1910. 



Assuming that Sea Lion Rock is occupied by the same number of 

 harems as in 1909 or neglecting it for both seasons, there are 7 fewer 

 harems on St. Paul this year than last. 



Comparing the number of harems on St. George during the years 

 1909 and 1910 there is 1 more, and when both islands are consid- 

 ered 6 fewer. As there is one bull to a harem, this is another way only 

 of stating that there are 6 fewer bulls this year than last ; and obvi- 

 ously such an estimate affords no indication whatever of the actual 

 number of breeding cows. 



ACTIVE BULLS. . 



The number of active bulls, each in control of a harem, is as just 

 noted, somewhat smaller this year than last (as 1,387 to 1,381); but 

 it is the universal verdict that as a class they have lost none of those 

 characteristics that make them successful masters. As usual there 

 was considerable skirmishing among them as the harems were form- 

 ing, but the wounds inflicted were comparatively insignificant and 

 no deaths were recorded. Early in the season one dead female was 

 found on Gorbatch whose wounds may have been caused by a bull, 

 and later six cows were seen on various rookeries that had been 

 severely though not fatally slashed. 



In a few cases young bulls or "quitters" were found with harems 

 on various rookeries, but usually they held sway on the outskirts of 

 the community and joined the females in the mad rush to the sea 

 whenever they were approached. It was the rare exception that 

 they held a position in the more crowded portions of the rookery, 

 where they would be called upon to defend their cows against the 

 attempted inroads on the part of more seasoned harem masters. 



By some authorities it has been urged that this infusion of young 

 male life into the general herd is beneficial, but in all probability its 

 A^alue is overestimated. It is not disclaimed that some animals are 

 born with more vigorous constitutions than others, and that in all 

 probability their offspring will be more hardy in consequence. And 

 furthermore, it is a truism that in the struggle for existence it is a 

 gain that the feeble are weeded out; but this is an entirely different 

 question from the one relating to the effects of age. In the case of 

 the female a long existence may lessen the production of milk or alter 

 its composition, and consequently inhibit the proper nourishment 

 of the offspring, but with the male no such argument may be brought 

 forward. In the case of the race horse, which has been studied as 

 much as any other mammal, attempts have been made to show that 

 it is desirable to breed young males, and again, with essentially the 

 same data, such a position has been attacked. To-day we know far 

 less about the seal, but it is a safe proposition to argue in favor of 

 perpetuating, as far as possible, those fully developed males that are 

 able to protect their harems. 



