274 American Fisheries Society 



seals which it would bring about. While a cessation of land 

 killing for a season or two might cause no serious trouble, 

 the fifteen year period specified is not only too long but posi- 

 tively dangerous, as the Bureau of Fisheries would be power- 

 less to apply the necessary remedy for the evil of overcrowd- 

 ing by males when it becomes serious. 



The criticism of the administration of the seal islands 

 which called forth the above resolution of August 12, 1911, 

 was made by men who have not been on the islands for 

 twenty years and who cannot appreciate the recent detailed 

 investigations. Severe criticisms have also been made by 

 men who have not been there at all, and whose opinions upon 

 the subject are of little value. 



Plans have been considered for reducing the loss due to 

 the hookworm Uncinaria. The breeding grounds of the 

 Pribilofs are located largely upon rocky ground or upon 

 firm soil and have sufficient slope as a rule to prevent the 

 accumulation of sand. There are small patches within the 

 limits of several rookeries which are infested with the para- 

 site Uncinaria. This hookworm is responsible for heavy 

 annual losses among the young seals born on sandy areas. 

 The Uncinaria parasite was doubtless a greater source of 

 danger in former years than at present. It was, like the 

 fighting of the males, a natural check upon the unlimited 

 expansion of the seal herd, but not so potent. The topog- 

 raphy of some of the rookeries is such that an extension of 

 their limits would force the breeding females to occupy 

 unfavorable sandy areas. This source of danger to young 

 seals can be eliminated, if sandy ground is covered with 

 rock, or fenced in so that breeding seals cannot occupy it. 



In conclusion it may be stated that with our present 

 knowledge of the life history of the fur seal, there is no 

 reason why our valuable herd should not only rapidly in- 

 crease in size, but under wise management, actually exceed 

 in numbers the great herds occupying the Pribilof Islands 

 at the time of their discovery. 



