FUR SEALS AND OTHER LIFE, PRIBILOF ISLANDS, 1914. Ill 



On a number of occasions the bodies of seals and the offal from those utilized for 

 food by the inhabitants have been buried in pits. When opened in the winter the meat 

 is sometimes entirely spoiled, but usually a portion is eatable. Meat kept in this way 

 is generally not eaten at once, but eventually is consumed. A quantity of seal carcasses 

 buried in the autumn of 1910 on St. Paul Island were examined about midwinter and 

 found to be in a more or less putrid condition. They were not visited by the foxes to 

 any extent until toward the end of the winter, but were still being eaten as late as May 10, 

 191 1. While it is unlikely that any harm to the foxes results from the eating of putrid 

 or imperfectly cured meat, the great waste involved and the hardship of handling the 

 product forbid the use of this method. It is equally plain that salted food, even when 

 freshened under the most favorable conditions, is unnatural and can not fail to be more 

 or less injurious. 



The objections to salted or buried food make it necessary to look for some better 

 method of preservation. It may be borne in mind that it is not necessary for the meat 

 to be preserved perfectly, but only sufficiently to guard against loss and to put it in such 

 shape that it can be handled. In the absence of cold storage the remedy seems to be 

 in the use of dried meat. With the improved methods of transportation absolutely 

 necessary in order that the resources of the islands may be effectively and economically 

 exploited, the bodies of seals killed in the vicinity of the hauling grounds at points 

 accessible to the foxes may be hung in screened shelters and dried. It has been proved 

 by experiment that the meat can be preserved in this way at a very small expense, and 

 that the foxes prefer it to salted meat. 



The importance of increasing these valuable herds of foxes justifies the expenditure 

 of more care than has been devoted to the subject. The expense and labor of preserving 

 and distributing an ample supply of seal meat, when killing on a larger scale shall be 

 resumed, will probably not be greater than that involved at present. This subject is 

 discussed at greater length elsewhere. 



The fact that the methods now in vogue have failed to accomplish the result sought 



calls for no criticism of the persons who have been in charge. The failure has been due 



to circumstances which in most cases have been beyond the control of the agents. The 



fact remains, however, that in spite of what has been done, the number of the animals 



and to some extent the quality of the fur have gradually declined since special feeding 



and the reservation of a part of the stock for breeding purposes were inaugurated. In 



addition the herd on St. George is not only greatly reduced in number at present, but 



the animals are in very poor physical condition. It is hoped that the causes resulting 



in these unfavorable conditions have been stated in sufficient detail. The prospect of 



removing the main obstacles is good, and the outlook for the ultimate restoration of 



the herd is bv no means dark. 



BREEDING HABITS. 



According to Judge, who has made more careful observations on the foxes than any 

 other person, they mate in March or early April. New-bom young have been found 

 from May 17 to June 6. The young are usually born above ground, and are transferred 

 to underground dens within a few days. The dens are usually in rocky ground, or, 

 when situated in sandy areas, beneath a rock. 



Among 22 litters of new-bom young observed by Judge, the smallest numbered 5 

 and the largest 11 pups. A newly-born pup weighed 2>4 ounces. He states that the 



