16 ALASKA FUR-SEAL ROOKERIES, 1910. 



Unfortunately, in the present year a sufficiently large pup count was 

 not made whereby to settle the question. The estimated decline may 

 be approximately correct or it may be due to the methods of taking 

 the census. If an equilibrium does exist it means that if the number 

 of guards stationed on the islands is sufficient to prevent poaching 

 the entire land catch may amount annually to something in the 

 neighborhood of 10,000 skins and the herd would be in no clanger of 

 extinction. If instead of allowing matters to rest as they are the 

 Government orders the branding of female pups, then some of the 

 pelagic sealers may be compelled to abandon their calling, and the 

 herd would probably increase, but there is nothing to prevent the 

 return of the entire sealing fleet when the herd is larger and a profit- 

 able catch may be made even though each skin is much reduced in 

 value. 



As matters appear there is one way only whereby the pelagic- 

 sealer may be driven away entirely, and that is by the further reduc- 

 tion of the seal herd. This is at best a cold-blooded proposition and 

 will probably not meet with general approval, but there seems to be 

 no other way to destroy the activity of the fleet. 



The question now stands, Shall the pelagic sealer be driven from 

 the sea and the financial gain from the then highly diminished herd 

 be reduced to a minimum, or is it better policy to place the business 

 more nearly on a paying basis though the pelagic sealer share in the 

 returns ? Until pelagic sealing is discontinued by an agreement with 

 the countries concerned the revenue fleet must be kept about the 

 islands, under any circumstances the natives must be cared for, and 

 in various ways a heavy financial outlay must be made annually. 

 Personally I favor the latter plan, reaping as large a harvest as is 

 compatible with the conservation of the herd and at the same time 

 leaving as little as possible to those on the high seas. 



THE PATROL AND PELAGIC SEALING. 



The revenue fleet maintained throughout the season of 1910 

 a most thoroughgoing and careful patrol about the islands, where 

 reefs, and shifty currents, and impenetrable fogs are of the most 

 • treacherous character. Three cutters, the Tahoma, Capt. Quinan, 

 commanding; the Manning, Capt. Cardin; and the Perry, Capt. 

 Haake, constituted the fleet, with Capt, Foley at Unalaska in com- 

 mand. Prior to Jul}' - 26 each vessel remained 12 days in the vicinity 

 of St. Paul, and after 5 days returned from coaling at Unalaska. On 

 the date named the Perry, during a dense fog, went ashore at Rocky 

 Point on St. Paul and was never floated. The duties of the remaining 

 vessels became correspondingly increased, but so far as known no 

 schooner pushed inside of the 3-mile zone after this accident, and 



