28 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



THE COUNT OF IDLE AND YOUNG BULLS. 



The idle and young bulls were counted at the same time as the harem bulls. They 

 include only bulls that were on the breeding ground at that time obviously waiting for 

 opportunity to obtain harems. During preUminary counting an attempt was made to 

 distinguish between those that stood their ground and those commonly called "quitters" 

 because they retreat from man. But as the season advanced some of the quitters were 

 observed to pass into the category of harem bulls, so when the height of the season 

 counts were made all bulls about the back and sides of the rookeries were regarded as 

 idle bulls unless plainly less than 6 years of age. Certain others stationed at the water's 

 edge in front of the rookeries were by mutual agreement regarded as idle bulls. Young 

 bulls on the hauHng grounds were not considered at this time. The result of the count 

 of idle bulls is included in the statement of the harem count on a preceding page. 



THE COUNT OF HALF BULLS. 



The half bulls of 5 and 6 years of age are roving much of the time, sometimes being 

 about the breeding areas, at other times on the hauUng grounds, while at all times a 

 considerable proportion are undoubtedly at sea. Their well-developed "wig" or mane 

 readily distinguishes them from bachelors of 4 years and under, while their smaller size 

 prevents confusion with the old bulls. The number on land at any one time can be 

 counted with a great degree of accuracy. They were counted on St. Paul Island on 

 July 28, the count being made practically simultaneously by different observers stationed 

 for the purpose on different rookeries. A few days later a similar count was made on 

 St. George Island by G. D. Hanna. The total result showed 748 half bulls for the whole 

 herd, and although it may have included a few previously engaged in harem service, 

 and of course takes no account of those at sea, it furnishes some measure of the strength 

 of this class of seals, which is obviously greater than it has been for a number of years. 



THE COUNT OF BACHELORS. 



Counting bachelors may be compared to counting a swarm of bees, part of which is 

 in the hive and the remainder out gathering honey. The full number can not be deter- 

 mined with accuracy although various devices are available as the basis of estimates. 

 Those on land at a given time may be closely approximated by a process of combined 

 counting and estimating. After some experience, results may be obtained in this way 

 which, as minimum figures, are wholly reliable. It is often possible to find a herd of 

 bachelors practically all of which are lying asleep, so an observer in an elevated position 

 with a good field glass can count them with considerable accuracy. Conditions for 

 counting in this manner are particularly favorable on St. George Island. A large herd 

 of bachelors in which all or many individuals are in motion can only be estimated by 

 counting those on a certain space and correlating the number obtained with the total 

 space occupied. At times the bachelors on a given hauling ground may be driven back 

 a short distance and divided into small pods which are successively counted as they form 

 in an irregular line to return to the sea. Taking all data of this sort into consideration, 

 the observer spending an entire season on the islands is in no doubt as to the approxi- 

 mate number of bachelors usually found on each hauling ground. Since the bachelors 

 move about to a certain extent from one hauling ground to another and even pass 



