198 



THE FUR SEALS OF THE PKIBILOF ISLANDS. 

 ST. PAlTLi ISE,AIVD, 1S»5— Continued. 



ST. OEOROE ISLAND, 1875. 



1 The killings subsequent to July 17, at which time the quota of the season was tilled, were for natives' food, and, as 

 in the case of the Killings before the regular season hegan, the skins so taken when suitable were included in the quota of 

 the following year. 



2 Prior to the year 1891 it was customary each fall to allow the killing of a certain number of young male pups by 

 the natives for food. Before leaving the islands in the fall the pups become verj' fat, and as their diet is exclusively milk 

 up to that time, the meat was dearly prized by the natives. The method employed in takina tlies*- pups was to drive them 

 uj) from a given rookery, sort nut the males and drive them to the killing grounds for shiughler. Their skins were of no 

 value. The wasteful practice was discontinued after 1890. For details regarding this matter, reference maybe made to 

 extracts from the log of St. Paul, Part II, under date of November in any season. 



^St. George had furnished 27,000 male seals uj) to the close of 187:i, when the quota was arbitrarily reduced to 10,000. 

 The driving of this year was adapted to the reduced quota. In 1887 the quota of St. George was raised to 15,000, aud the 

 driving increased accordingly. 



