378 REPORTS OF BERING SEA COMMISSION. 



Progress of ex- the acceptance of the principles stated above, 



termiuation. 



which are the logical deductions from established 

 facts. 

 Rairis on the It may be wortli while to add that the sug-- 



rookeries. "^ 



gestion has been made that the decrease in the 

 number of seals is due to piratical raids upon the 

 islands themselves during the breeding season. 

 Comparison of While it is unquestioiiably truc that such raids 



raifls and pelagic 



sealing. liavc Occasionally occurred during the past, and 



that some skins have been obtained in that way, 

 the number of these is so trifling in comparison 

 with the annual pelagic catch as not to affect in 

 any way the question under consideration. It is 

 also difficidt for one familiar with the rookeries 

 and the habits of the seal to conceive of a raid 

 being made without its becoming known to the 

 officers in charge of the operations upon the 

 islands. The "raid theory," therefore, may be 

 dismissed as unworthy, in oui* judgment, of 

 serious consideration. 

 Rocommcnda- In addition to the establishment of such reoai- 



tion as to manage- 



meut of islands, latious as would practically suppress pelagic 

 sealing, it is strongly recommended that killing 

 on the islands be subjected to somewhat more 

 strict and competent supervision. While it is 

 not l^elieved that any serious consequences have 

 resulted from looseness in this respect, the inter- 



