48 ALASKA FISHERIES AND FUR INDUSTRIES IN 1915. 
greater abundance at the large glacial streams, probably because of the greater num- 
bers of fish; second, the water is suited to the use of gill nets for a large portion of the 
time and this method of fishing furnishes better opportunities to observe the actions of 
the seals; and third, the gill nets render the fish helpless and easy prey for the seals 
which soon learn this and frequent the nets. 
The distribution of the seals is not, however, confined to these restricted localities 
but on the contrary they frequent all salt water of the region and at times ascend the 
streams and rivers in greater or lesser numbers, sometimes becoming quite abundant 
far up the larger streams, and also occasionally entering fresh water lakes near tide- 
water. They are to be found in practically every bay into which streams flow and 
are there in varying numbers from one or two to dozens, depending on the supply of 
fish. 
The study was first taken up at the Stikine River and efforts were made to ascertain 
in definite figures and percentages the fish damaged by the seals. To best accomplish 
this it was necessary to visit daily as many as possible of the fishermen and obtain 
from them the figures as to the total number of fish caught in their nets during the 
preceding 24 hours, or since last visited, and the numbers positively known to have 
been damaged by the seals as shown by remnants in the nets. The figures therefore 
take no account of the numbers of fish entirely removed from the nets, leaving no trace 
whatever, or none other than a torn net, blood stains, orafew scales. The fish thus lost 
by the fishermen is not a small percentage, but as no definite figures could be obtained 
they are entirely ignored other than for this brief mention. The figures are for only 
a portion of the fishermen operating at the Stikine and for only a few days, and take into 
account only the damaged fish remaining in the nets. The number of fish consumed 
by the seals other than those taken from the nets can not at present even be esti- 
mated. Some persons have expressed it as their opinion that at least in the vicinity 
of the larger rivers the seals destroy more fish than are taken by the fishermen. From 
these limited observations it seems probable that such statements are entirely correct. 
The figures given are for king salmon only. From meager information at hand 
it seems that the other species of salmon are not taken from the nets in such large 
percentages. Possibly this is because the fish are more abundant, and also by the time 
the other salmon run the seals have moved up into the rivers away from the fisher- 
men’s nets. It is likely though that their diet is composed mainly of salmon whenever 
those fish are to be obtained. 
Through the courtesy of the Columbia & Northern Fishing & Packing Co., of Wrangell, 
it was possible for the officers of the Bureau to go on the boat that daily visited the fish- 
ermen to collect fish, and it was on these trips that much of the statistical information 
was obtained. 
Of a total of 1,184 red-meated king salmon taken in nets visited, 324 were damaged 
and remained in the nets, a percentage of 27.39-+; and of 278 white-meated king salmon 
caught, 24 were mutilated and remained in the nets, a percentage of 8.63+.¢@ These 
figures fully bear out the assertions of the fishermen that the hair seals prefer the red- 
meated salmon to the white ones. 
According to information received from the fishermen, seals were not as abundant 
nor as destructive during the time that the above data were collected as they com- 
monly are, so the figures are probably much under the average of the damage by the 
seals. 
There are no such figures as the above to show the seals’ work at the Taku and Chilkat 
Rivers, but by conversing with fishermen and others, and in a few cases by personal 
observation, it is believed that the damage is much the same as in the Stikine region. 
At the Stikine the damage is worst when the nets are placed near the flats or the river 
mouth and least when far out, and at the other streams the same is true. To keep the 
@ The observations were made in the period from May 12, 1915, to May 29, 1915, dates inclusive. 
