FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY. 91 
Average harem.—The average number of cows to each breeding bull will be one of 
the most important factors in determining the size of the fur-seal berd after it becomes 
too large for the pups to be accurately counted. A condition has probably never 
existed when every bull had the same number of cows or when the average harem on 
every rookery was the same. The fact that scattered harems are smaller than massed 
harems is the cause of this. In order to ascertain as nearly as possible the proper’ 
admixture of massed harems and scattered harems to give the average harem of the 
herd, the average harem was determined in 1915 for every breeding mass. 
The following table shows the average harem for the several rookeries and for the 
herd as a whole: 
THE AVERAGE Harem SHOWN BY ROOKERIES. 
1914. 1915. 
Rookery. 
Breeding} Harem | Average | Breeding} Harem | Average 
cows. bulls. harem. cows. bulls. harem. 
ST. PAUL ISLAND. 
ETC OVEl OSE ko). Shere eee Ee ae od oe 2,119 58 36.5 2,475 67 36.9 
MoeAMIT ssf see eee Se eee ae ese es 1,834 39 47.0 1,954 46 42.5 
Gorbatche’. S20e ee. cee esl ee LA Se 6, 152 112 54.9 6,978 152 45.9 
MATEO SUIOT sae soe Noe ecko cemrin ete oe 656 15 43.7 632 25 2p53 
COMM Rectan settee Jeet cee: cee aneoaee 13, 559 193 70.3 14, 750 294 50. 2 
STIG NSS oh ee ae een ae ale Pee eee) 4,052 91 44.5 4,535 96 47.3 
EAP OOU areca eters nearer nee eee ero e ee 375 8 46.9 394 15 26.3 
OLS LOLs a aa ese Se eee Seek eT 9, 934 161 61.7 11, 623 237 49.0 
FACTO bet lee eee eee ea Relea elite ee ae ELE A 7,625 114 66.9 8,740 173 50.5 
THEA A PACT ..o ai cece. ioe oe ne eee 4,919 90 54.7 5, 682 106 53.6 
AGH ONO LAW CURA) 2) ee Si a ae te 206 3 68. 7 219 31.3 
a OLOWANS see ates aos sek oa eee ee 3,555 58 61.3 4,161 70 59.4 
Polovina Clits! 2. =o). ess ca)es ve ae a se 1,449 22 65.9 1,553 33 47.1 
Little Polovina 927 18 BLS 1,065 21 50.7 
MORJOVar especies = athe 6 sence acces ae eee 2,312 43 53.8 2,395 51 46.9 
WOSTICA NIT 432. on te SS Ce Ae a 19, 709 291 67.7 20,981 396 53.0 
Motalepescat ese sack cst ot eae es 79, 383 1,316 60.3 88, 137 1,789 49, 27 
ST. GEORGE ISLAND 
ISUUNS GEES EAs a Ge eee Bes ee os BP 5,301 94 56. 4 SBR 141 40. 6 
SNOT SRT NESW aN a) ae eR en See 4,278 63 67.9 4, 450, 89 50.0 
PEACH celal s Saree eae oe Se oe enero 1,022 14 73.0 989 23 43.0 
RE BUS Sieh. setts! ci2! sree pees aches 1 1 1.0 26 3 8.7 
ATWONEIASE Ss seen 22s cece eee ono 26 1 2650) [sateen aes |e cen ce ames 
MasteReer th etl § oo eee sie 581 14 41.5 1,047 30 34.9 
acti Olitise: uk tye We Base A cakes, 2, 658 57 46. 6 3,147 76 41.4 
Motales fs.csie)Seecetee ote ese 13, 867 244 56.8 15,390 362 42.51 
Bierauliisland t):20-). $\3. 026 is oe 79, 383 1,316 60.3 88, 137 1,789 49. 27 
PIS GeOLPe ISIANG.- &.. 2. os seek ee 13, 867 244 56.8 15,390 362 42.51 
otal, bothislands.é : . = j<8.5-522< 93, 250 1,560 59.8 | 103,527 2,151 48. 13 
The most conspicuous result shown by these figures is the decrease of the average 
harem from 59.8 in 1914 to 48.13 in 1915. From some standpoints this is a condition 
greatly to be desired. It is undoubtedly approaching the point of stability. Another 
year of counting should determine the number of idle bulls which are required to 
maintain the average harem at its minimum. After this percentage is once deter- 
mined there need never be apprehension as to the sufliciency of male life as long 
as this number of idle bulls is present. 
The following table shows the proportion of idle bulls to harem bulls in 1915. It 
is believed that this percentage of idle bulls has not yet brought about the minimum 
average harem; that is, the percentage of idle bulls to harem bulls should be some- 
what greater than 31.28, the 1915 figure, in order to reduce the number of cows to 
each bull to the lowest possible number. 
