FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA IN 1910. 33 



its breeding efficiency, but on the other hand could only seriously 

 impair if not wholly destroy it. It would be the same if two valuable 

 stallions, each physically perfect, and matched in strength and 

 courage, were allowed to fight with each other until one were killed. 

 The survivor, if one did survive, would be so seriously injured by its 

 opponent as to be rendered incapable of service for the time being, 

 if not permanently. 



To breed a large number of surplus male seals merely that they 

 may fight amongst themselves and determine the strongest in combat 

 is useless. By the time the strongest individuals have proved their 

 superiority they have expended so much of their energy in fighting 

 that physically weaker but fresh animals ma} r overpower them and 

 take their cows. Such is the history of the Pribilof rookeries during 

 the time when thousands of idle bulls were present. Instances to 

 substantiate this conclusion have been witnessed many times. 



Since physical combat is not required to test the ability of a male 

 fur seal, no reason is known for providing a number of males beyond 

 that necessary to fertilize the females in the herd. Therefore the 

 practice of killing surplus males at the time when their pelts have a 

 considerable commercial value should be continued. Surely no purely 

 sentimental reason should prevail over those of practical weight. 



SUPPORT OF NATIVES. 



The present s} r steni of supporting the natives on the Pribilof 

 Islands should be changed. Under it the native receives enough 

 food, fuel, and clothing to sustain life, but only a portion of the sum 

 necessary for his maintenance comes to him as compensation for 

 labor performed, the remainder being donated as a gratuity through 

 an appropriation of Congress. This latter feature is the most objec- 

 tionable of all and the one which it is sought to eliminate. Better to 

 explain the situation the following brief summary is given of the man- 

 ner in which the natives have been supported since they were first 

 transported to these islands. 



In 1787, the year following the discovery of St. George Island, the 

 discoverer, Pribilof, brought to the islands a number of native fami- 

 lies, principally from Unalaska, and landed them there to serve as 

 laborers in taking skins from the animals with which the islands 

 abounded. Several other adventurers also brought natives to these 

 islands and founded small villages at several points thereon. In 1799, 

 upon the. taking over by the Russian-American Company of the 

 administration of the whole of Alaska, the competing traders were 

 sent away from the Pribilofs and the islands passed under the auto- 

 cratic control of Baranof. A cessation of killing was ordered, and 

 in 1806-7 nearly all the natives were removed to Unalaska. 



