370 TESTIMONY 



cruises in Alaskan waters and in Bering Sea, I draw the following con- 

 clusions: 



There were fewer seals to be seen in the water in the vicinity of the 

 Pribilof Islands during the summer of 1892 than in 1891. 



At least 75 per cent and probably 80 or 90 per cent of the seals in 

 Bering Sea, outside of a narrow zone around the seal islands, are fe- 

 males, 75 per cent of which are nursing mothers and the remaining 25 

 per cent virgin cows, too immature for bearing. 



If barren cows exist at all they are rare. I have never known or 

 heard of but one instance. 



In Bering Sea mothers go long distances, as far as 200 miles from the 

 islands, to feed, codfish furnishing the bulk of their food. 



They sleep much in the water, are not timid, and are readily taken; 

 and their death means the destruction of three lives — the mother, the 

 foetus, and the pup on the breeding grounds. The past season is the 

 first in several years that such deaths among the pups have not oc- 

 curred from this source. 



At least 70 per cent and probably 80 or 90 per cent of any catch in 

 Bering Sea will be females, either actually bearing or capable of bear- 

 ing at no distant day. This is borne out by the character of the skins 

 of the Henrietta seized last summer for the violation of the modus Vi- 

 vendi. The captain informed me that nearly all the skins taken were 

 those of male seals. Under my direction an examination was made of 

 these skins by N. Hodgson, a man of experience, in whom I have entire 

 confidence. The catch, as shown by the log and sealing book of this 

 vessel, was made in Bering Sea and consists of 420 skins, 301 of which 

 were found to be females, 33 males, and 26 those of seals too young to 

 determine the sex. 



For every 100 seals, the death of which results from pelagic hunting, 

 not more than 65 or 75 skins are secured. 



The female seals are widely distributed over the sea, and hence the 

 establishment of zonal areas would afford no protection, while the main- 

 tenance of such areas would be rendered impossible by climatic condi- 

 tions. 



There is a wide belt of 200 or 300 miles between the Commander and 

 Pribilof groups of islands which are devoid of seals, and hence no com- 

 mingling of the herds occur. 



There is no foundation for the statement that, during the summer 

 months, there are found in Bering Sea bodies of seals which are inde- 

 pendent of, unattached to, or do not visit the Pribilof islands. 



The annual migration is caused by climatic conditions and feed sup- 

 ply. 



The old bulls are the first to leave the islands, and most of them, to- 

 gether with many half bulls and large bachelors, remain in the waters 

 of Bering Sea and off the coast of Alaska during the entire winter, in- 

 dividuals rarely being found south of the 55th parallel. 



The major part of the herd, consisting of females and their pups and 

 young males, begin to migrate about the end of October, and by Janu- 

 ary 1st all of them have begun their migration. These dates are some- 

 what earlier or later, according to the season. 



Those that leave earliest go furthest South, arriving on the coast of 

 California, and those leaving later reach the coast further up. Their 

 arrival is coincident with the coming ot the smelt, herring, and eulichan, 

 upon which they feed. 



On reaching the coast their migration route is continually towards 

 the islands, but following the general trend of the coast, the inner 



