96 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OE FISHERIES. 



difficult to count the harems there, and if the breeding area is increased in future years, 

 as is almost certain, it will be impossible to make an accurate count without their aid. 

 An inclosed station on Gorbatch for the accommodation of visitors to the islands also 

 would serve a useful purpose, since it is now difficult to carry out the regulations in 

 regard to the inspection of the seals by persons landing on the islands for a few hours 

 and desiring to see the seals. 



Improvement of ground. — Although the breeding ground preferred by the seals 

 is decidedly uneven in character, some of the occupied areas are so rough that the cows 

 and pups are exposed to considerable discomfort and danger. Small hollows between 

 bowlders afford refuge to the pups and protect them from tramphng, but where deep 

 cavities occur pups and occasionally cows may be unable to escape from them and 

 may perish. These cavities are a source of great annoyance also in the work of count- 

 ing the pups, as it frequently happens that several dozen must be pulled bodily from 

 a cavern before any idea of their number can be gained. Certain stretches on Lukanin, 

 Gorbatch, and Tolstoi are particularly troublesome. 



By blocking the entrances to the larger cavities and by filling the smaller ones with 

 loose bowlders the rookery grounds can be greatly improved. A few days' work with 

 a gang of men would give good results. It would be advisable to do as much of this work 

 as possible in the spring before the arrival of the bulls in order that the animals of that 

 season might benefit by the improvement. 



On Polovina Rookery there are a number of caves in the soft bank, evidently formed 

 by the action of the waves during the storms of winter, which become packed with the 

 little pups. Nearly a hundred were taken from one of these caves during the pup count- 

 ing of 1914. As these soft banks are constantly crumbling, there is always danger of 

 some of the little creatures being buried by the slipping of a part of the bank. These places 

 should be inspected each spring, and such portions of the bank as seem dangerous should 

 be cut down. The likelihood of having to pave sandy areas which in the past have been 

 affected with Uncinaria should not be lost sight of. While no evidence of this pest was 

 iound in 1914, it may recur at any time. Areas which were especially favorable to the 

 spread of the plague have been improved from time to time by being partially covered 

 with rock, and this treatment appears to have borne good results. Close watch should 

 be kept, and at the first evidence of the recurrence of the pest the affected places should 

 be partially or completely paved. The shrinking of the rookery areas in late years has 

 naturally led to the abandonment of some of these affected spots, but with the increase 

 of the herd they will doubtless be reoccupied and may again become serious sources of 

 mortahty. 



THE EFFECT OF EXISTING LAWS. 



Among the matters to which special attention was directed in the instructions for 

 the investigation of 1914 was "The strength of the surplus male life in relation to the 

 close-time provisions of existing law and to treaty obligations." 



The most recent law affecting the seal herd, and the one under which it is chiefly 

 administered, became effective August 24, 1912. It provides that all killing of fur 

 seals be suspended for a period of five years, except the limited number of male seals 

 needed as food for the natives. It further provides that not less than 5,000 males 

 shall be reserved for breeding in each year after the resumption of killing until 1926, 



