WEAXIXG OF PIPS NOT BEFDKE XOVEMBER. 



A uumber of pups Avere killed iu the i'all of 18il6 to deterniine if possible whether 

 they feed on anything but milk. In no case before October 22 was any food other 

 than milk found. The following extracts are taken from Mr. Clark's lield record: 



STOMACHS EXAMINED (PUPS). 



"August :?0. — Pup killed on Lukanin ; stomach contained only milk. 



"September 11. — Mal^ pup accidentally smothered on Kitovi; stomach empty. 



"September :?.'. — Two male pups taken on rocks at the warehouse; both stomachs 

 contained milk only. 



"Septem(>er SG. — Two large well-nourished pups, one male and one female, found 

 freshly dead from drowning on Lukanin beach; stomach of female, emi)ty; male full 

 of milk only. 



" September ;JS. — Pup with deformed nose killed at Zapadni; stomach contained 

 uulk only. 



"September 30. — Large black pup accidentally killed by falling over a cliff; stom- 

 ach contained milk only. 



"October 1. — Large gray female pup killed on Gorbatch; stomach contained milk 

 and two small crustaceans. 



" Oetober '1. — Starving gray pup in dying condition on the Reef killed; stomach 

 contained a few crustaceans and se\ eral shreds of seaweed. 



" October 6. — Two jiups killed on Tolstoi; milk only found in their stomachs. 



"October 11. — Two large gray male pups killed on Ciovbatch; stomachs empty. 



" October 13. — Two pups, male and female, killed on Lukanin; stomach of male 

 empty; of female contained milk only. 



"Two large gray pups killed on Kitovi; stomach of one full of milk; of the other 

 empty, except for one small tunicate. 



" Oetober 14. — Three ]iups killed on Kitovi. (1) A starving pup, stonuich contain- 

 ing one soft-shelled crab ; (2) a very small pup, stomach full of milk; (3) a large gray 

 pup, stomach empty. 



" October 20. — Gray pup shot in water off Zolotoi playing with seaweed; stomach 

 full of milk ; excrement like that seen on beach in rectum and intestines. 



"All stomachs examined contained pebbles." 



XIV. LAND KILLING OF BACHELOR FUR SEALS. 



LAXD KILLING USEFUL TO HEKD. 



Land killing has been for many years limited to the removal of a definite uumber 

 of young males, chiefly 3-year-olds, with occasional "long 2-year-olds" and "short 

 4-year-olds." Owing to the polygamous habits of the fur seal a very small percent- 

 age of males suffices for the needs of propagation. An exces^ of males is positively 

 and extremely injurious to the herd, because of their excessive lighting and the 

 couse([ueut destruction of piips and cows. Hence this removal of male life tends 

 distinctly to favor the increase of the herd. 



OVERKILLIXG AS AFFECTIXtg THE HERD. 



As it has been claimed that killing of males has been a cause of the decrease of 

 the herd, it is necessary to treat this matter in some detail. The term "overkill- 

 ing" in this connection is susceptible of two meanings, both of which should be 

 clearly understood. 



While a small percentage of males is sufficient for reproduction, a certain number 

 is absolutely essential. If reduced too low or cut off entirely the effect must be 

 disastrous. Such a condition, however, could not be easily brought about and 

 might be not even possible. For example, if the young male life of 4 years and 

 under on the I'ribilof Islands were to-day entirely wiped out, the herd would not 

 be injured by such loss within about live years, for the supply of males of 5 years and 

 upward on the island would not be exhausted within that time. Breeding would 

 go on as usual on the rookeries and the usual increase would take place. Although 

 it would not be possible under these conditions to secure killalde seals on the 

 island, still the life and increase of the herd would be in no way affected. Fur- 

 thermore, such action to be dangerous must be kept u^) year alter year. 



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