FUR-SEAL HERD OF ALASKA. 5 



than 150 young bulls make up the following sum total of the breedmg 

 strength ol the fur-seal herd for this season of 1913, to wit: 



Old bulls (8 to 15 years old) 1, 400 



Young bulls (Ci to 7 years old) 150 



Cows, primipares, multipares. and nubiles 80, 000 



Pups 70, 000 



Total ( c? , 9 , and o i 151, 550 



Then add (a vague estimate) : 



Yearlings ( c? and 9 ) 30, 000 



2-year olds ( c? ) 0, 000 



3-year olds { c? ) 3, 000 



4-year olds ( c? ) 400 



Grand total seals (c? , 9 , and o, season of 1913) 190, 950 



Table showing the relative size of the fur-seal herd of 1913 when contrasted with its form in 



1874 and 1890} 



1 The nonbreeding yearlings and 2, 3, 4, and 5 year old males are not included in this table, since they 

 can not be reasonably estimated for (during the last 20 years); they had practically disappeared from the 

 island grounds when looked for in 1913. 



Note.— These figures declare the fact that the decrease from 1874 to 1890 was a loss of two-thirds of this 

 herd's breeding strength. 



Then, they declare the fact that that decrease from 1890 to 1913 

 shows clearly that the herd has suffered a loss of five-sixth of its 

 breeding strength during this interval and is close to the verge of 

 complete destruction of its virile male life^ unless it is fully shielded 

 from killing on the islands and the sea for a term of years ahead. 

 (See detailed discussion and figures, in Exhibit A, postea.) 

 TT July 9,1 — ^A careful examination was made of the official seal 

 island agent's journals, or "log books," as kept in the office of the 

 United wStates agents on St. Paul Island, from 1890 to date. 



1 That serious matter of the lack of breedmg bulls, or of the utter absence of surplus or young virile male 

 life on the rookeries, during this season of 1913, makes the following statement, given to Hon. E. W. Town- 

 send by George A. Clark, under date of Feb. 28, 1913, significant, since he has declared that "the condition 

 of the herd to-dav is an ideal one." 



"Stanford University, California, February 28 1013. 



"Dear Sir: * * * i was on the Pribilof Islands during the season of 1896-97, under Dr. Jordan, and 

 participated actively m the work of investigation, in addition to having the benefit of all the training and 

 experience of the other members of the commission. I did the actual work of counting, and know that 

 there were three idle and young bulls for every bull in active service on the rookeries in those seasons. 

 * * * I was again on the Lslands in 1909, and again counted the bulls— one idle or reserve bull for each 

 two in service. * * * I visited the islands again last smnmer (1912) and found conditions as they were 

 in 1909. .These are facts, not conjectures and opinions. * * * 



"George A.Clark." 



'Every bull engaged this summer (1913) was carefully located and counted by us. We found just 1,450 

 so engaged with 80,000 cows. We found less than 150 "reserve" or "idle" bulls. 



> Now, if George A. Clark is telling the truth to Hon. E. W. Townsend, this "reserve of one bull idle for 



)every two in service" during 1912 has .suddenly disappeared. There is to-day actually less than one idle 



, or reserve bull for every nine in service. 



I This is a sudden and a dangerous collapse of the vii'ile breeding male life on the rookeries since 1912 if^ 

 Clark is telling the truth. 



