FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



189 



Ever since the 10th and 12th instant the yearlings, i. e., last year's 

 pups, have been hauling in greatly increased numbers daily, and will 

 do so until the 2()th iustant. This was tlieir habit in 1872-1874, and I 

 notice by these tallies on the ground that it is tlieir habit to-day. Of 

 course the $10.22 tax paid this year rules them out safely from the 

 club, otherwii^e they would have been slaughtered. This shift from the 

 $3.17 tax of 1870, to the 110.22 tax of 1890, is an exceedingly fortunate 

 one for the seals, and the Government. It has prevented what would 

 have been close to the finishing touch relative to the destruction of 

 these rookeries ; yes, perhaps such a killing which would have made it the 

 labor of fifteen years to restore them and the hauling grounds depend- 

 ent, to their standard of 1872. As it now appears, it will require at 

 least seven years of absolute rest, killing nothing here during that time 

 save that small numbers of pups and yearlings required annually for the 

 food and clothing of the natives of the Pribilov Islands. Had there 

 been no killing at all this year, it even then would have required a rest 

 of at least five years, beginning with this season. The work of last 

 year, and this, was and is literally "robbing the cradle and the grave." 



July 17^ 1890. — The following are field notes of the podding and club- 

 bing of a drive made from Polavina July 17, 1890: 



Whole number of animals driven, 1,514 ; number taken, 172, or 87 per 

 cent turned out. 



Of the 172 taken as above, 81 were 4-year-old "wigs." This is the 

 first killing of this low-grade skin made thus far this season; they 

 have been driven up steadily and redriven, and as steadily rejected. 

 Had they not been taJcen to-day the percentage of rejection would have 

 been 93 ! 



The following are field notes of the podding and clubbing of a drive 

 made from Lukannon and Ketavie July 17, 1890: 



Whole number of animals driven, 1,320; number taken, 197, or 85^ 

 per cent rejected. 



A small squad of 3 and 4 year olds liitherto undriven, though marked 

 on Ketavie during the last three days, some 80 or 90 all told, were 



