37 



ill the morniny. This is to prevent, so far as may be, overheating. After the seals 

 have rested for a time the killing is begun. The larger droves are separated into 

 small "pods" of 20 to 30, which in succession are driven up within reach of men 

 armed with stout clubs. Tlu'se "cull" out the "killable" seals (3-year-olds, large 

 2-year-olds and small 4-year-old8) by striking them on the head, allowing the non- 

 killable seals (yearlings, small 2-year-olds, and all " wigged'' seals) to esca])e and 

 go back to the sea. The blow of the club renders the animal instantly unconscious, 

 if it does not kill it outright. It is then blSd by sticking a knife to the heart and 

 it is immediately afterwards skinned. 



^ETHODS CAN NOT BE MUCH CHANGED. 



The methods of driving, killing, and skinning the seals are the results of many 

 years of experience, and we do not see that they can be much improved. Whether 

 brutal or not depends on the care talcen in the details, which slujuld be subject to 

 constant supervision in tlu^ interests of humane treatment. Certain accidents liap- 

 pen, but they are of minor importauce and do not affect the seal herd. The gregari- 

 ous habit of the fur seal and his unwillingness to be lel't behind or even in the out- 

 skirts of the drove lead occasionally to overcrowding on the drives and killing 

 grounds, and a few seals are smothered. Occasioually, also, on warm mornings, a 

 seal becomes overcome ' by heat or exhaustion and is unable to kee]) uj) with the 

 drive. Such animals are at once killed and skinned, their pelts l)eing recorded as 

 "road skins." If left behind, most of these would recover and get back to the sea. 

 Deaths from such causes are rare, only five " road skins" having been known to occur 

 on the drives of this year, out of a total of .30,000 seals killed, besides the larger num- 

 ber (lri\en up but rejected. It occasioually happens, also, that the wroug seal is 

 clubbed by mistake. Such accidents seldom occur, however, as it is to the interests 

 of the lessees as well as of the Government that only seals of the proper grade of 

 skin are killed. 



MOON-EYED BACHELORS. 



The presence of seals suffering from blindness due to injury to the sclerotica — 

 "moon-eyed" bachelors, as they are called — has been referred to as evidence of injuries 

 received on the killing grounds. 0(!casionally an accidental blow with tlie club 

 striking the eye will throw out the crystalline lens. This does not produce opa(jue 

 sclerotica, however, but leaves an eniiity eye socket. Among the seals on the island 

 this year not only were bachelors with such eyes found, but also cows aiul a consider- 

 able number of pups. These ])ups will in time, if they survive, return as " moon-eyed " 

 bachelors or cows, and it is but reasonable to suppose that the adults with such defec- 

 tive eyes were originally blind ])ups. There is no evidence that tlie drives have any- 

 thing to do with the matter. It is stated by Dr. Shute, an oculist consulted by us, 

 that irritation produced by sand striking the eyeball or lodging under the lid is the 

 probable cause of this disease, as well as of the sore eyelids often seen on pups. 



CARE TO AVOID NEEDLESS PAIN THE ONLY ESSENTIAL. 



The present methods of handling the seals, while they seeui crude, are still effect- 

 ive and well adapted to the animals with which they have to deal. Any improve- 

 ments that might 1-e suggested are of minor Importance. These may all be summed 

 up in an injunctiou that scrupulous care be exercised in cariying out projierly the 

 various details of the operations as now conducted. Such care is now usually exer- 

 cised and need never be wanting. Killing, of course, must be killing everywhere, 

 but there are probably few shambles in the world where less needless pain is inflicted 

 than on the fur seal killing grounds of the Pribilof Islands. 



SHORTENING OF THE DRIVES. 



Of late years the drives have been greatly shortened and now range in length from 

 one-eighth of a mile to about a mile. This has reduced the strain on the animals, 

 lessening the possibilities of smothering or death by exhaustion. None of the 

 drives now made are long or trying. They bear no comparison in this regard to 

 those on Medni (Copper) Island. For example, the longest drive on St. Paul, that 



*From the deficiency of sweat glands and the presence of the thick blanket of 

 blubber, the fur seals are readily overheated by exercise. They cool themselves by 

 fanning with their hind flippers, on which the skin is tliin, by breathing with ojien 

 mouth, aud especially by i)lungingiuto the water when this is i>ossible. Internally 

 overheating shows itself mainly by a slight congestion of the lungs, which, except in 

 extreme cases, soon passes away. 



