FUR SEALS AND OTHER LIFE, PRIBILOF ISLANDS, 1914. 147 



CONCLUSIONS. 



It will be seen from the foregoing account that the people of the Pribilof Islands, 

 though not natives, have for so long made the islands their home that they know and 

 recognize no other. They are a people still in a state of semicivihzation, and consid- 

 ering their limited environment they seem to be as well able to embrace its advantages 

 and as successful in combating its disadvantages as is usual among such peoples. They 

 constitute a heritage acquired by the United States with the islands and their valuable 

 wild inhabitants, and considerations of economy and of humanity demand that they be 

 accepted as such and managed with all possible wisdom and fairness. Many of the 

 details of the present system of dealing with them are survivals of the past, and the 

 conditions under which they developed are no longer existent. Many changes and 

 improvements have been recommended by the agents and other officials, but in most 

 cases they have not been accomplished, either on account of controversy, sudden and 

 radical changes of regime, or small appropriations. Many changes in the methods of 

 deaUng with the natives seem to be necessary. Such changes should be instituted 

 gradually, and in such a way that the natives will be able to perceive their fairness and 

 expediency. In some respects they deserve more liberal treatment; in others they 

 must be dealt with more firmly. In their management a great deal will depend on the 

 personality of the officials in charge. 



The changes in methods which seem desirable have been pointed out in the fore- 

 going pages. It is believed that the work necessary to put the sealing plant on an 

 efficient basis and the resumption in the near future of commercial sealing, accompanied 

 by a better system of compensation, and the opportunity of exchanging the reward of 

 their labor according to their desires will help to make the natives self-respecting and 

 gradually lead to their betterment in many directions. By such a course the people 

 of the islands may become an entirely self-supporting, efficient, and happy community. 



SUMMARY. 



The results of the investigation of 1914 may be summarized under two principal 

 headings, (i) existing conditions and (2) conclusions. 



EXISTING CONDITIONS. 



The actual conditions on the Pribilof Islands as detailed in the foregoing pages 

 may be stated briefly, as follows : 



(i) The herd of fur seals contains approximately 294,000 individuals, of which 

 not less than 93,250 are bearing females. 



(2) The stock of adult males is small, and though there is no proof that breeding is 

 thereby diminished, it is e\'ident that adolescent males participate in it to a greater 

 extent than is natural. There is every reason to believe that this condition will cease 

 to exist in 191 5. 



(3) The supply of idle bulls is small and insufficient for the service of the virgin 

 cows, which must therefore mate either with the old bulls or with the adolescent half- 

 bulls. There are good grounds for believing that this condition also will cease to exist 

 in 1915. 



