FUR SEALS AND OTHER LIFE, PRIBILOF ISLANDS, 1914. II3 



males and 547 were females. Of these 218 males and 245 females were killed. Those 

 released comprised 279 males and 302 females. 



Of the entire number of males, 10 weighed from 5K to 6 pounds, inclusive, and 32 



others between 6 and 7% pounds; 239 fell between 7^ and 10 pounds, the minimum 



weight required of breeders. Of the remainder, 206 weighed between lo^ and 15 



pounds, 7 between 15^ and 17% pounds; and the other three weighed 17K1 20, and 



, 20X pounds, respectively. 



Of the females handled on this occasion, 4 weighed from 4 to 5 pounds, and 7 others 

 fell below 6 pounds; 280 weighed between 6 and 8 pounds, inclusive; 197 fell between 

 %l4 and 10 pounds; 56 ranged from loX to 13K pounds; and the remaining three 

 weighed, respectively, 14^2, 15, and 2i|-4 pounds, the last being the heaviest blue fox on 

 record from the Pribilof Islands. 



The largest fox taken on St. Paul Island during the trapping season of 191 3, 

 which comprised the last week of November, was a male weighing 19^^ pounds. 



RECOMMENDATIONS. 



Feeding and method of capturing. — With the resumption of commercial kilUng of 

 seals, an abundance of excellent food for the foxes will be assured. With increased facili- 

 ties for transportation the killing would be done in the vicinity of the hauling grounds. 

 The principal ones on St. Paul Island are as follows: Northeast Point, Polovina Point, 

 Reef and adjoining points, Tolstoi, Lukanin, and the several hauling grounds at Zapadni. 

 Practically all the foxes on the island live near or at points allowing easy access to these 

 places. Roofed sheds screened from flies and provided with arrangements for hanging 

 quantities of seal bodies should be built for the purpose of drying the meat. These 

 sheds should be so constructed as to keep out the foxes, but a free circulation of air should 

 be allowed. The drying process can be facilitated by slow fires of driftwood; this can 

 be gathered nearby in sufficient quantities for this purpose. The use of a fire will dry 

 the air and also protect the meat against flies. The drying shed could serve also as a 

 storehouse for the meat. 



The feeding inclosures, at least preceding and during the annual trapping season, 

 should be trap cages similar to those now used on St. George, but future experience will 

 doubtless suggest some improvements. Such traps have never been used on St. Paul 

 but there is, of course, no reason why they can not be introduced. It will be desirable 

 to avoid the necessity of remaining at watch all night during the trapping season to 

 spring the traps, especially if these trapping stations are established at a number of 

 places. Inclined funnel-shaped entrances have been recommended by G. Dallas Hanna. 

 These or inclined walkways from the end of which the animals can jump down to a tip- 

 ping shelf can without doubt be devised. A larger feeding trap would prevent the 

 animals from crowding and by allowing the food to be more scattered would insure a 

 share to the weaker animals. If low houses were provided in the comers of the feeding 

 corrals, the foxes on finding themselves trapped would doubtless hide in these and 

 could easily be secured for examination. 



In addition to the feeding which should be maintained at these places during the 

 winter season, some judicious scattering of food suitable for the young foxes in certain 

 well-stocked breeding areas would doubtless result in a larger proportion of young reach- 



