38 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



Five-year-old males: 



Reserved in 1912 as 3-year-olds 2, 005 



Deduction for possible mortality in fifth year, 5 per cent 100 



Four-year-olds in 1913 i, 905 



Killed as four-year-olds in 1913 247 



Five-year-old males in 1914 •. i, 658 



Total estimate of nonbreeding seals 106, 456 



THE COMPLETE CENSUS OF 1914. 



Following is a summary of the results of the counts and estimates. Discussion of 

 the methods used in obtaining the figures may be found elsewhere. 



Complete census of fur seals, 1914. 



Pups (actual cotuit) a 93, 250 



Bearing cows (inferred from number of pups, including dead) 93, 250 



Yearlings of both sexes (based on known birth rate in 1913) 46, 135 



2-year-oIds of both sexes (based on known birth rate in 1912) 34, 844 



3-year-old males (based on assumed birth rate in 1911) 13, 880 



4-year-old males (based on estimated birth rate in 1910) 9, 939 



5-year-old males (based on known reserve of 1912) i, 658 



Idle bulls (actual count) 172 



Harem bulls (actual count) i, 559 



Total 294, 687 



Total, exclusive of pups 201, 439 



RESULTS OF THE CENSUS. 



INDEPENDENT RESULTS. 



Whatever past conditions may have been, the census of 1914 shows the fur-seal 

 herd to contain upward of 294,000 animals, by no means a small number. The rela- 

 tive proportions of the different classes of seals, while not yet wholly ideal, are such as 

 to indicate clearly that they can be made so in another year. Furthermore, they are 

 such as to forecast a rapid expansion of the herd in the near future. There are not less 

 than 93,250 mature breeding cows and by conservative estimate about 17,000 virgin 

 cows, or a total stock of approximately 110,000 breeding females. There are 1,559 

 harem bulls and 172 idle bulls, and although this may not be as many as desirable it is 

 gratifying to note that there are at least i ,600 half bulls of five years of age which may 

 have effected some service in the season of 191 4 and which will undoubtedly participate 

 in the harem life of 191 5. With allowance for probable natural deaths, there will be 

 on the islands in 191 5 not less than 3,000 bulls of 6 years of age and over. A rea- 

 sonable calculation of the cows to be served next year would be 99,000 adults and 18,500 

 virgin 2-year-olds, a total of 118,500. The 3,000 bulls, therefore, if evenly distributed, 

 would have 39 to 40 cows each, a number which is certainly not greater than their 

 capacity. Thus all apprehension as to insufficiency of male life will cease in 1915. 



a This includes 1,743 pups already dead at Uie time of the count, but for comparative purposes this is desirable, the same 

 method having been followed in 1912 and 1913. Since a large percentage of the pups will not survive the first winter, they form 

 at best a variable element so far as the total seals of all classes is concerned. The strength of the herd at the opening of the sea- 

 son of 1914 is shown by the total, exclusive of pups. 



