FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY. 97 
BRANDED SEALS. 
The branding of several thousand fur-seal pups at the Pribilof 
Islands in 1912 has been productive of knowledge not before obtain- 
able. In the winter of 1915-16 the data which had been obtained 
were assembled as far as practicable and some of the more important 
facts are deemed worthy of publication. 
The work of branding the pups in 1912 was undertaken by George 
A. Clark, acting under instructions from the Bureau. Mr. Clark 
being unable to complete the work, it was continued by W. I. Lemb- 
key on St. Paul Island, and by A. H. Proctor on St. George Island. 
The following table gives certain details in regard to pups branded 
in 1912: 
SumMArRyY oF Pups BRANDED IN 1912. 
. | Sex not 
Date. Island and rookery. Males. | Females. recorded Total. 
ST. PAUL ISLAND. 
1912. 
ANU Pa ne TAUAMIN a. ciasteret wien cise = <iaciossieis sista osPs.are 28 182|sseseche5 46 
Meptys: ..cigdsh - seh esse Gorbatch.3 # sreptses42. 2 bissesaste! 311 Qb4). tieee.. 565 
PO Ua Mes nc'e aca s eaecsoesc Gils bd Soe eRe CORD ar cei ie cee see 407 B35 08 en eh eae 735 
Deni eset F2eH85 26 - fideo. ot ois. GOEEEE Masa sc es esk eee -.2C-Liss-i0. 202 RU2 haa. = 22 OhFsz 374 
WOme eae ke she S recurs Raivovi Reo. eetice eS coi Soo nite Saclc tent 10 Yl x Borers ee 19 
Octa29 and 30. «.2. 224553 Katoyiiand ‘Likanin cc csc a3: t fascia. -2 oejes| a. -te$e5% 1,005 1,005 
Dy ee ee a sails e alas RGOL sod cia'sste cart vist meisics Sesieeees vos Gone ee Te Ee hese nite coe 483 483 
LNA FTA Se BO |S Se a Re Ne 958 781 1, 488 3, 227 
ST. GEORGE ISLAND. 
HepueitG. 22s S Lf Ont eect toes ssite ceeds aa! 475 455! [28s 24S 930 
DOU Di aets onc oae Ie ak bala Var An talma sce Seee soo os eS 350 Bid lal ae € Ge Oe 710 
FeCIO I AT IE | PTB. NorthoosfrAw s.r kee 24 et! 102 A390" et 241 
OCtAI Gr oe ok alee GON Sc ssc boo sc Saacectes <e hb ays 59 61" |S. <3s.35.3 120 
IDOE ky sas ae rar | eter 0 on ER Ae Ook en eet 986 MAU ol te eee 2, 001 
Motalypothistand ssi a tetera soe ae ee a es 1,944 1, 796 1,488] 5,228 
The work of branding pups, as carried on by Mr. Clark on St. Paul 
Island, was described by him as follows: 
The process of branding is simple. The older natives hold the small group of pups 
after it has been surrounded in a loose fashion, merely to prevent the animals getting 
away. A dozen young men in two groups catch the pups, carrying them by the hind 
flippers, holding their heads flat on the ground by a grip on the skin of the neck at 
each side while the brand is being burnt in and then carrying them out of reach. 
The mark consists of a T, the stem reaching down between the eyes, the crosspiece 
between the ears. A space of half an inch or more is left free between the two burns. 
The red-hot iron burns through the fur readily, leaving a clear surface, a slight addi- 
tional pressure insuring the destruction of the roots of the fur. Five seconds are 
sufficient for each of the two marks and both can be made with a single iron. A 
plumber’s gasoline forge will keep three irons in condition and one operator could 
theoretically brand three animals a minute. In practice about one a minute is quick 
work. There is always delay in getting the pups ready. Moreover, the work is 
heavy, not merely for the persons doing the branding but for the native holding the 
animal. The 489 pups branded this afternoon represent a maximum half day’s work 
for two men, or approximately 1,000 pups a day. 
86497°—17—28 
