67 



5. Statistical records.— The requirement of statistics as to localities of fur seals 

 taken lias some value in flfterniiuinp; tLeir distribution in the sea. The requirement 

 that the sex shall also he recorded is farcical. Such information if obtained would 

 be valuable, but it can uot be gained in this way. Masters of vessels will not put 

 themselves out to give accurate statistics if it is believed by them that to tell the 

 truth would be against their own interests. As to this, Mr. A. B. Alexander has the 

 following pertinent remarks : 



"It has generally been supposed by most sealers, and the view is still entertained 

 by many, that if it were known that a greater number of females than males were 

 taken it would greatly alfect and possibly restrict their privileges when the time 

 came for a readjustment of pelagic relations. The fact has generally been lost sight 

 of that the condition bt' the rookeries at the end of five years will have the most 

 weight in deciding the matter. 



"That pelagic sealers should pay little attention to the sex of the seals taken 

 was but natural, as they had no objei-t in determining which sex predominated, the 

 thought upi)ermost in their minds being to cai)ture as many seals as possible." 



For example, according to Mr. Townseml, the schooner Stella Erlatnl reports in 

 her log 83 males, 82 females. The customs examinations showed 130 females, 35 

 males. The Teaser rei)orted 41 males, 46 females. The customs officers found 23 

 males, 04 females. Similar discrejjancics occur in the log books of many other ves- 

 sels. Even where an attempt is mach^ to make an honest record, all fur seals not in 

 milk are recorded as males, as it is not easy to distinguish the sexes except by direct 

 inspection. 



The Canadian sealers are this year further required to note also the "barren 

 females." As the sealers have neither means nor time to look for the nnnute fetus 

 present in August, all cows not in milk nor obviously gravid must be recorded by 

 them as " barren,"' if indeed they take the time to observe the sex at all. The bar- 

 ren female of the fur-seal herd is an imaginary being. Yearlings, 2-year-olds, and 

 cows who have lost their pu]is early, will seem to be barren. 



6. Prohibition of firearms. — Through the iirohiliition of the use of firearms in Bering 

 Sea, fur seals are killed by the spear and club. This arrangement is supposed to 

 give an advantage to the Indian hunter who has long been expert in the use of the 

 spear. White men soon become with practice e(iually skillful. According to Mr. 

 Alexander, the white hunters are at this disadvantage: They are employed also as 

 sailors, while the Indians, being useless on sliipboard for any other purpose, give 

 their whole time to hunting. The white hunters have the advantage of greater per- 

 sistence. The Indians are readily discouraged by bad weather and bad luck. 



When fur seals sleep after feeding, as is oiten the case in Bering Sea, they can be 

 more surely taken with the spear tbiin with the gun. The noise of the gun moreover 

 alarms others in the vicinity. Traveling seals are probably more readily killed with 

 buckshot, and doubtless if guns and spears as well could be used in the canoes more 

 seals would be captured. With the shotgun the number lost after being mortally 

 wounded is vastly greater th;in with the spear. Without attempting to discuss the 

 vexed question, it is safe to say that the numl)er actually secured by shooting is very 

 much less than the number killed. The cajiture of 1,000 skins through the use of the 

 shotgun represents a much greater loss to the seal herd than the same number 

 taken with the spear. A considerable number of the living seals on the island carry 

 buckshot in their bodies. Some speared seals also escape, as seals with spear 

 wounds and also with spearheads in the skin are occasionally seen on the islands. 

 The tenacity of life in the fur seal is extremely great. Unless hit in a vital part it is 

 able to swim a long distance even when severely wounded. 



Americnn sealers are now required to have their firearms sealed by the customs 

 officer at Unalaska. No such re(|uirement is made of the Canadians. This discrep- 

 ancy is unfortunate for the latter, as the possession of skins of fur seals which have 

 been shot exposes their vessels to seizure. The absence of lirearms unsealed would 

 in such case afi'ord a strong presuuiptinn th.it no violation of law had been com- 

 mitted. The failure of the British authorities to make this ob\ iously reasonable 

 regulation is the source of some ill feeling among the sealers themselves. 



The refusal of the British authorities to ])crmit examination for shot skins and for 

 sex to take place in the customs offices instead of on the decks of the schooners seems 

 to us a serious error, involving great inconvenience to the patrol vessels, as well as 

 to the sealers themselves, as the patrol officers could not undertake the repacking of 

 opened cases or casks of salted skins. 



7. Skill ill use of spear. — The regulation requiring each fur-seal hunter to show 

 that he has the uecessarj^ skill to use the spear is valueless and borders on the 

 ridiculous. 



8. Use of open canoes. — The privilege of fur seal hunting along shore in undecked 

 canoes has long been exercised by the Indians of Barclay Sound, Neah Bay, and other 

 localities. This article provides for the continuance of this privilege under the old 

 conditions. The Aleuts of Unalaska, Unimak, Akutan, and other islands have, how- 

 ever, been included under the provisions of the Paris award and are forbidden to 



