J GO MANAGEMENT OF THE SEAL ROOKERIES. 



Overdriving and islands, states it as liis opinion that even if a seal 



rcdiiviug. 



was driven twelve successive days for the aver- 

 age distance between a hauling ground and a kil- 

 ling ground, its virility would not be at all 

 impaired.^ Mr. Taylor says in relation to injury 

 to the reproductive powers of the male seals "it 

 would at once be noticeable, for the impotent 

 bull would certaiidy haul up with the bachelors, 

 having no inclination and vigor to maintain him- 

 self on the rookeries."^ The same methods of 

 driving are employed on the Commander Islands, 

 and the rookeries are smaller, necessitating more 

 redriving and the drive on Copper Island takes 

 often a day going over a ridge seven hundred feet 

 high; and yet this driving, so much more severe 

 than on the Pribilof Islands, has been carried on 

 for over fifty years is sufficient evidence that 

 redriving does not injure the reproductive force 

 of the male seal.^ All the drives on the Com- 

 mander Islands are rougher and more severe than 

 on the Pribilof Islands.* That this injury to the 

 male portion of the herd has not occurred is 

 evidenced by the testimony of many on the 

 islands in later years, ^ and Mr. Redpath, resident 



iVol. II, p. 72. 



2 Vol. II, p. 177. 



3C. F. Emil Krebs, Vol. II, p.l9G. 



^N. B. Miller, Vol. II, p. 200. 



6H. H. Mclntyre, Vol. II, p. 45; J. Stanley P.rown, Vol. II, p. 18; 

 Daniel Webster, Vol. II, p. 182; J. C. Redpath, Vol. II, p. 151; C. 

 L. Fowler, Vol. II, ,p. 25. 



