38 SEAL LIFE OX THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



Twenty dead bulls aud 101 dead females were found ou ISt. Paul 

 Island during the season of 1895, 3 of the latter having spear points 

 and lines attaclied. 



The total number of seals taken in Bering Sea during the season by 

 the pelagic sealing tleet was 43,097. There can be no doubt that at 

 least 7.5 per cent of those were breeding females, the death of which 

 would necessarily involve the loss of over 32,000 young. The pro- 

 portion of the sexes represented in the season's catch, as reported by 

 the sealing fleet, is untrustworthy, judging from our experience with 

 reports of this kind in the past and from what we know at present of 

 the actual conditions. 



RECOMMENDATIONS RESPECTING THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



Having already questioned the propriety of the driving aud culling 

 of seals by the lessees upon the islands, it is unnecessary^ to repeat the 

 arguments against the practice. No further culling should be permit- 

 ted. It would be preferable to kill a larger quota consisting of several 

 grades of skins, taking all that might be driven, lather than to continue 

 the selection of a single grade necessitating the excessive handling of 

 the animals now practiced. 



Should a sealing fleet be present in Bering Sea during the season of 

 1890, the removal of all surplus males, except yearlings and large bulls, 

 would be desirable. While increasing the quota of (xovernment skins 

 aud lowering the value of the pelagic catch, it would also have the 

 effect of limiting the ]»elagic catch entirely to females. The number of 

 females is now so limited that no in-ofit will be found in taking them at 

 sea, where they will be so scattered as to discourage pelagic sealers and 

 to some extent shorten the season of their operations. 



Another method, suggested by Mr. F. W. True, of reducing the iielagic 

 catch to an appreciable degree might be found in retaining all non- 

 breeding males upon the islands after August 1. Commencing about 

 the 20th of July, all males appearing npon the hauling grounds, and 

 rejected from the drives, could be place<l in the larger inland lakes and 

 held captive there for six weeks or uune. A solution of the pelagic 

 sealing question might be found in the branding of nursing females in 

 such a manner as would destroy the value of skins, while the ([uestion 

 of property recognition upon the high seas miglit be well worth raising. 



Any action on the part of the authorities directed toward the killing 

 of female seals on the rookeries, for any purpose whatsoever, would be 

 deplorable. Notliing can justify the destruction of the source of supply 

 of anything useful to mankind. 



REPORT ON PELAGIC SEALING IN 1895. 



The following report embraces the results of observations made at sea 

 between August 9 and 30, 189."», in connection with the tishery investi- 

 gations of the Fish Commission steamer Alhafro.ss, aud subsequently at 

 Victoria, British Columbia, Seattle and Port Townsend, Wash., between 

 September 25 and October 18. The work at sea consisted in boarding 

 such vessels as were met with for the pur[)ose of making inquiries as to 

 the number of seals taken, the positions where taken, their sex, age, 

 food, etc. 



The perfecting of United States customs regulations providing for 

 the collecting of sealing data by American vessels left comparatively 

 little work to be done at sea. The examination of a considerable num- 



