DR. C. HART MERRTAM. 417 



Inasmuch as the number of seals annually secured by pelagic seal- 

 ing represents but a fraction of the total number killed, a glance at 

 the above figures is euongh to show that the destruction of seal life 

 thus produced is alone sufficient to explain the present depleted coudi- 

 tion of the rookeries. 



Pelagic sealing as now conducted is carried on in the North Pacific 

 Ocean from January until late in June, and in Bering Sea in July, 

 August, and September. Some sealing schooners remain as late as 

 November, but they do so for the purpose of raiding the rookeries. 



It has been alleged that overkilling of young males at the islands is 

 a principal cause of the depleted condition of the rookeries. 



In reply to this contention it is only necessary to bear in mind that 

 the number of male and female fur-seals is equal at birth, that the 

 species is polygamous, and that each male serves on an average at 

 least fifteen to twenty-five females. It is evident, therefore, that "there 

 must be a great superabundance of males, of which a large percentage 

 may be killed annually forever without in the slightest degree enda'n- 

 gering the productiveness of the herd. Fnrthermore, it has been shown 

 that the killing of seals at the Pribilof Islands is completely under the 

 control of man and is restricted to the superflnous males, for selection 

 as to sex and age can be and is exercised so that neither females nor 

 breeding males are killed. It is evident that this killing of nonbreed- 

 ing males could in no way affect the size or annual product of the 

 breeding rookeries unless the number killed was so great that enough 

 males Avere not left to mature for breeding purposes. There is no evi- 

 dence that this has ever been the case. Moreover, all seals killed or 

 "wounded are invariably secured and their skins marketed; in other 

 words, there is neither waste of the seal herd, nor impairment of the pro- 

 ductiveness of the hreedinrj stock. 



Pelagic sealing, on the other hand, is wasteful in the extreme and is 

 directed to the fountain head or source of supply. From the very na- 

 ture of the case selection can not be exercised, and a large percentage of 

 seals wounded are lost. Owing to the peculiar movements of the seal 

 herds, it so happens that about 90 per cent of the seals killed in the 

 North Pacific are females heavy with young, entailing a destruction of 

 two seal lives for every adult seal killed. In Bering Sea, also, large 

 numbers of females are taken; these females are in milk, and their 

 young die of starvation on the rookeries. 



Pelagic sealing as an industry is of recent origin, and maybe said to 

 date from 1879. The number of vessels engaged has steadily increased, 

 as has the number of seals killed, until it appears that unless checked 

 by international legislation the commercial extermination of the seal is 

 only a matter of a few years. It seems a fair inference, therefore, that 

 the only way to restore the depleted rookeries to their former condition 

 is to stoj) taking seals at sea, and not only in Bering Sea, but in the 

 North Pacific as well. 



Having been selected by my Grovernment solely as a naturalist, and 

 having investigated the facts and arrived at the above conclusions and 

 recommendations from the standpoint of a naturalist, I desire to know 

 if you agree or differ with me in considering these conclusions and rec- 

 ommendations justified and necessitated by the facts in the case.' 



I shall be greatly obliged if you will favor me with a reply. 

 Very truly yours, 



0. Hart Mekriam, 



53 



