74 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



THE EFFECT OF PELAGIC SEALING. 



LOSSES DUE TO PELAGIC SEALING. 



The effect of pelagic sealing has been the subject of much discussion to which ref- 

 erence is not necessary at present. This form of sealing, insignificant at first, began 

 to be important about 1880 and continued until effectively stopped by international 

 agreement in 191 1. The total loss to the herd directly or indirectly due to pelagic seal- 

 ing can never be known. The records show that in Bering Sea and on the Northwest 

 coast during the period from 1880 to 191 1 approximately 900,000 skins were secured 

 and marketed by the pelagic sealers. When it is considered that from three to five 

 seals were killed for every one retrieved and that a large percentage were females whose 

 unborn pups perished with them and whose pups on land were left to starve, it is plain 

 that the total losses ran well into the millions. In every season since 1 890 the recorded 

 pelagic catch exceeded the land catch, so that during this period of steady decline of 

 the herd even the primary losses due to pelagic sealing were greater than those of land 

 killing. 



INFORMATION TO BE GAINED FROM THE CESSATION OF PELAGIC SEALING. " 



The present importance of a consideration of the effects of pelagic sealing lies in 

 the contrast between present and former conditions. Now, for the first time during 

 American ownership the herd is increasing and an opportunity is afforded for studying 

 its behavior under approximately natural conditions. In previous times practically all 

 efforts for knowledge of the numbers and movements of various classes of seals, all data 

 as to rates of increase ot decrease, and all measures looking toward regulation of killing 

 and leserving of breeders were subject to the unknown and uncontrolled factors con- 

 tributed by pelagic sealing. With pelagic sealing stopped, the time has arrived for a 

 thorough study of the problems hitherto in question solely or chiefly because of the 

 existence of pelagic sealing. The most important of these relate to the percentage of 

 survival to killable size and to the reserving of males for breeding. After the thorough 

 demonstration of the evils of pelagic sealing and after all the effort expended to abolish 

 it, legislation or regulations which perpetuate some of the very obstacles against which 

 we have been contending should be avoided so far as possible. While the cessation of 

 pelagic sealing is principally a matter of congratulation because it insures the preser- 

 vation of the herd, it is evident that our immediate practical benefit from it is the 

 opportunity it pennits for obtaining information which will be absolutely essential in 

 conducting land operations in the future. Thus far we have only partially taken 

 advantage of this opportunity by obtaining full counts of pups in 1912, 1913, and 1914. 

 The information thus obtained has been of great value, but a further use for it of the 

 highest importance will appear in 191 5 and 191 6, when it might be applied in connec- 

 tion with liberal killing and reserving to determine the percentage of male seals which 

 naturally survive to killable age. This information in regard to the males could then 

 be applied to the females which doubtless survive in approximately the same propor- 

 tions. Thus it would be possible at an early date to have for future guidance certain 

 very definite data as to natural death rates and percentages of increase of great 

 importance in the management of the herd. 



