140 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



As a result of this spirit which has pervaded the management of the rookeries 

 the policy of the past has been virtually to keep the fur seal herd in a wild state, it 

 being shut out from all sight or contact with man except in so far as it was necessary 

 to disturb it to secure the product of the herd. 



THE POLICY OF SECLUSION DETRIMENTAL. 



This mistaken policy bore its fruit. From the time of Mr. Elliott's investigation in 

 1872-1874 until the collapse of the herd in 1890 the history of the rookeries is a blank, 

 so far as any real knowledge is concerned. What was needed was a thorough and 

 systematic study each year of the condition of the breeding herd. It is safe to say 

 that had this been done, the error, falsehood, and confusion which so effectually stifled 

 the truth before the Paris Tribunal of Arbitration, and caused that bewildered court 

 to legalize pelagic sealing, would not have been possible. 



Under this policy of seclusion the herd melted away to one-half of its size before 

 it was known that any danger threatened it. Year by year thousands of the young 

 died and rotted on the rookeries as the result of the ravages of a dangerous parasite, 

 which should have been recognized and measures taken, if possible, to suppress it. 

 Others of the young died of starvation on the rookeries, proclaiming not only the fact 

 but the cause of the decline of the herd, but they were unnoticed. Had the fur-seal 

 herd been treated as any valuable herd of animals are and should be treated, 

 its habits, needs, possibilities, and limitations studied from year to year from the 

 beginning, it is safe to say that there would now be no fur-seal question. For 

 the difficu^ies of the situation to-day the policy which deferred to these groundless 

 fears of what might result from examination and disturbance of the animals is in a 

 measure, at least, responsible. 



INTELLIGENT INSPECTION NOT WANTON INVASION. 



It is, of course, not contended that the precautions taken against wanton invasion 

 of the rookeries by the natives and by casual visitors are not wise and necessary. 

 They should never be wanting, but they should never include or influence the officers 

 in charge of the herd. We make a clear distinction between mere disturbance and 

 intelligent inspection and supervision. It is possible to visit the rookeries daily and 

 study them closely, to count their families and to photograph them, without disturbing 

 the breeding seals in the least. After the breeding season is over and the harems 

 have broken up, the rookeries can be entered, the animals driven off, and their grounds 

 inspected without harm. 



INSPECTION NOT HARMFUL. 



Iii the work of the past two seasons it was assumed that the herd could be 

 inspected and disturbed to any extent necessary. Whatever would throw light on 

 its condition was unhesitatingly carried out. The breeding grounds were under 

 constant inspection from the beginning to the end of the breeding season and until 

 almost the departure of the animals from the islands in the fall. On all the rookeries 

 the seals were twice driven off into the sea. They returned immediately to their 

 places and resumed their usual routine as if never disturbed. On the rookeries most 

 frequently visited the animals came apparently to ignore our inspection. They were 

 manifestly less troubled by our presence than on rookeries seldom visited. 



