96 REPORT OF BRITISH COMMISSIONERS. 



the Pribyloff Islands, has already been frequently quoted, states that 

 these whales usually come to the islands from the north early in Sep- 

 tember, and stay about them as long as the seals do.* They kill many 

 seals, particularly pups, and wantonly kill, apparently in sport, many 

 more than they actually devour. Captain Lavender, in his Report for 

 1890, mentions the occurrence of large schools of killer whales in pursuit 

 of young seals about the islands on the 30th October in that year,t 

 and Lieutenant Maynard mentions a case in which a single killer whale 

 was found to have fourteen young seals in its stomach. | The Aleuts 

 at Ounalaska further stated that tliey have often seen killer whales pur- 

 suing and catching fur-seals, not alone the young, but also the adults. 

 335. In the vicinity of the Commander Islands killer whales also 

 occur, but they do not appear to be so numerous as about the Pribyloff 

 Islands, and their ravages have not been complained of in the same 



way. 

 60 336. As the killer whale frequents not only the summer haunts 



of the fur-seal, but its whole migration-range and winter habitat, 

 it is practically certain that the seals are exposed to their attacks at all 

 times, except when actually ashore on the breeding islands. It is, 

 moreover, supposed, and doubtless correctly so, that the larger sharks 

 to be found in the same waters prey upon the young seals to a consider- 

 able extent. 



337. In consequence of these and perhaps other enemies, and of vari- 

 ous accidents, and irrespective of possible epidemic disease, the number 

 of the young seals born is greatly reduced before they return as year- 

 lings in the following year; and it is still further continuously reduced, 

 thotigh in a diminishing proportion, in subsequent years. On this sub- 

 ject Bryant writes as follows : 



During the time the young seals are absent from the islands, fully 60 per cent, of 

 their number are destroyed by their enemies before they arrive at the age of one 

 year, and during the second year. about 15 per cent, more are lost. Later they appear 

 to be better able to protect themselves, but before they arrive at maturity, at least 

 10 per cent, more are destroyed. So that if left entirely to themselves, only 10 or 15 

 per cent, of the annual product would mature or reach the age of seven years. § 



On the same subject Elliott writes, speaking particularly of the males: 



By these agencies, during their absence from the islands until their reappearance 

 in tlie following year and in July, they are so perceptibly diminished in number, 

 that I do not think, fairly considered, more than one-half of the legion which left 

 the ground of their birth last October came up the next July to these favourite 

 landing-places; that is, only 250,000 of them return out of the 500,000 born last year. 

 The same statement, in every respect, applies to the going and coming of the 500,000 

 female pups, which are identical in size, shape, and behaviour. || 



338. Neither of these statements claim any great precision, and it 

 would be impracticable to make them precise. Bryant's may be taken, 

 however, as showing a more careful consideration of the facts, and 

 according to his estimates, in the case of 100,000 pups, but 40,000 would 

 return in the second year and 34,000 in the third year, while about 

 30,000 would reach maturity. 



339. It can scarcely be doubted that the fur-seal of the North Pacific 

 is also subject to diseases of various kinds, the prevalence or otherwise 

 of which have their effects on the numbers at each particular period. 

 Inquiries made on the subject have, however, not brought to light any 



*See also Bryant in "Monograph of North American Pinnipeds," p. 407. 

 t Senate, Ex. Doc. No. 49, 51st Congress, 2nd Session, p. . 

 t House of Representatives, Ex. Doc. No. 43, 44th Congress, 1st Session, p. 6. 

 $ " Monograph of North American Pinnipeds," p. 407; see also House of Represent- 

 atives, Ex. Doc. No. 83, 44th Congress, 1st Session, p. 65. 

 II United States Census Report, p. 63. 



