148 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



(4) The maintenance of a supply of harem bulls in the ratio of i bull to 40 

 bearing cows meets all possible demands of safety and conservation. 



(5) The operation of the law of 1912 has already resulted in a great increase of 

 male seals. The number of young males is very large and increasing rapidly. Of those 

 now Uving, enough will come to maturity in 191 5 to supply the needs of the herd for 

 both harem and idle bulls. The next generation, coming to maturity in 1916, promises 

 to exceed greatly the needs which will then exist and succeeding generations will furnish 

 further excess. 



(6) The herd is in excellent physical condition. Seals of all classes appear healthy 

 and robust. MortaUty of pups was small and natural and no epidemic of any kind 

 was prevalent. 



(7) Yearling seals were not found on the hauling grounds except in exceedingly 

 small numbers and very late in the season. The evidence is practically conclusive that 

 they rarely come to land at all until after the close of the killing season, July 31. 



(8) The increase in the number of bearing cows in 191 4 was small and is probably 

 due to an abnormal death rate among old cows as a result of former pelagic sealing. 



(9) Observation and handling in 191 4 of seals branded with hot irons in 191 2 shows 

 that the marking of breeding reser\^es with a permanent brand is practicable. 



(10) With more facts available than at any previous time, it is conservatively 

 estimated that when once proper proportions are estabhshed in the herd they may be 

 continued by reserving 3-year-old males in numbers increasing at the rate of 8 per cent 

 per annum, the reserve in any given season being 22 per cent of the number of bulls 

 required for the cows of the previous season. 



(11) The method of killing seals is not objectionable from the humane standpoint, 

 but shorter drives are desirable. 



(12) The system of weighing skins, introduced during the period of leasing, is 

 antiquated, unreliable, and no longer necessary. A more economical and more trust- 

 worthy classification can be made by measuring the dead animals before they are skinned. 



(13) The condition of the buildings on the islands, the means of local transporta- 

 tion, and many of the methods of work are but little changed since the lessees left. 

 They are the inheritance of obsolete conditions and in many cases unsuited to the 

 demands of modem efficiency. 



(14) The fox herd is in poor condition and demands special care and study. 



(15) The reindeer herd is increased and in good condition. 



(16) The sea lions and certain of the birds need continued protection. 



(17) The natives constitute a serious problem demanding careful consideration; 

 their present condition, while far from hopeless, is not creditable to the Government. 



(18) The resident employees on the islands have a heavy responsibility divided 

 between the management of the seals and the government of the natives, each presenting 

 special problems requiring a high degree of ability for their solution. 



CONCLUSIONS. 



As a result of the investigations of 191 4, the findings of which are summarized in the 

 preceding section, the following conclusions seem justified: 



(i) There are good reasons both from the standpoint of economy and from that of 

 the welfare of the seal herd to resume commercial sealing at once. Commercial seaUng 



