FUR SEALS AND OTHER LIFE, PRIBILOF ISLANDS, I914. 



55 



time would normally be about one-fifth as many as the number of old cows. This 

 would indicate that one idle bull to every five harem bulls would not be an excessive 

 number. Although but little data are available, it seems probable that most of the virgin 

 cows are served between July 15 and August 5, a period somewhat shorter than that 

 during which the old cows are held in the harems. Therefore, it may not be unfair to 

 allow a smaller number to each bull than in the case of the old cows, and one idle bull 

 to every four harem bulls therefore may be suggested as a theoretically ideal proportion. 

 Reference to the table (p. 52) of the distribution of idle bulls in 1914 shows that this 

 proportion has nearly or quite been reached on some rookeries without effectively re- 

 ducing the average size of the harems of the old bulls so it is evident that in practice it 

 may not be possible to secure ideal proportions either of idle bulls or harem bulls. How- 

 ever this may be, there can be no question of the importance of striving to maintain 

 proportions as near a theoretical ideal as circumstances will permit. 



THE UTILIZATION OF SURPLUS BULLS. 



To prevent financial loss, business principles demand' that no large increment of 

 idle bulls be permitted, but it is inevitable that excess may occur from time to time 

 either as the result of well meaning restrictive legislation or on account of the liberal 

 allowances for contingencies necessary in a carefully considered system of reserving 

 young males. It is true that after the fourth year the pelt of the male fur seal becomes 

 coarser and of less value than formerly, but it can not be said that it loses all its value. 

 During the early years of the leasing system all furs were much cheaper than at present 

 and the great abundance of seals made it natural that only the choicest should be taken 

 for market. In later years, when the Government restricted the quota, the lessees were 

 of course inclined to follow a similar policy guaranteeing them the largest possible profit. 

 Therefore it is probable that they fostered the belief that skins of "wigged" males were 

 of no value. The pelagic sealers, however, took seals of all classes and the records of 

 sales in London show that "wigs" were by no means without value. Although their 

 condition as pelagic skins was variable and doubtless below what might be expected of 

 land-taken skins, they were often sold for good prices in lots including other grades. 

 The best examples of lots consisting exclusively or almost exclusively of wigs in recent 

 years are found on the sales sheet of C. M. Lampson & Co. for 1909 and 191 1, as follows: 



Prices received for skins of large seals. 



Lot number. 



Classification. 



Average price. 



Sale of Dec. 17, 1909; 

 168 



175 



338 



Sale of Dec. 15, 1911: 

 190 



250 



268 



hi wigs 



\S wigs (cut) 



/16 wigs 



U wigs (cut) 



fio wigs. pt. cut, etc 

 \i middling 



/20 wigs 



\6 wigs (cut) 



(12 wigs 



\3 middlings 



[32 wigs 



\i4 wigs (cut) 



Shillings. 

 iio(S26, 76) 



108 (S26, 28) 



S6 CS20.92) 



66 ($16. 06) 

 52 ($12.65) 

 44 ($10. 70) 



