223 



AnsTv^er. 6(c). A small number of females are mistaken for males and har- 

 vested accidentally each year. In 1954 and 1955, however, some females were 

 purposely taken for studies of reproduction. 



Most of the females harve.sted since 1956 have been taken from hauling 

 grounds. A good proportion of these animals were either not yet of breeding 

 age or were old and apparently had not given birth to a pup during the year 

 examined. 



From 1956 through 1963, females were taken under a herd reduction program 

 designed to reveal the level of maximum sustained yield. From 1964 througb 

 1968, only those females not needed to maintain the population level were har 

 vested. During these years, the response of the herd (primarily with respect 

 to survival of the young) to a population level below its natural peak was 

 appraised. 



The number of females (and the number of pups Ijorn) is now being allowed 

 to increase to a higher level below their natural peak. Thus, females have not 

 purposely been taken since 1968. When the new population level is reached, the 

 number of females (and hence the numl)er of pups born) will be maintained 

 there by taking surplus animals not needed as recruitment into the breeding 

 reserve. Measurements will continue to Ije made of the response of the herd to 

 manipulation of its population level to determine the level of maximum sustained 

 yield. 



We esitmate that generally from 40 to 60 percent of the females disptached 

 had given birth to pups that year. This changes somewhat from year to year. 

 In the year for which we have the best data, 1968, only 34 percent of the females 

 had given birth. Many pups, of course, had died before the females were har- 

 vested. We estimate that generally 40 percent or less of the females which have 

 been harvested had live pups. 



Answer. 6(rf) • Information contained in number 5 above. 



Question Xo. 7. 7s it your belief that the present population could not grow 

 further without damage to the breeding stoek through overpopulation? 



Answer. We are now hoping that the population will increa.se to a level where 

 about 400,000 to 450,000 pups are born annually. The only action that we can 

 take to have the herd increase is to protect females. However, survival to age 

 3 years for recent year classes has been low, and unless the survival rate increases 

 the population will remain at about its present level, or at best increase very 

 .slowly. 



Question No. 8. Please supply copies of the Interior 1968 Task Force recom- 

 mendations with respect to the Pribilof herd. Have these recommendations all 

 been adopted? If not, why not? 



Answer. A copy of the Task Force Report and a copy of "Investigations and 

 Experiments Pertaining to Fur Seal Slaughtering Methods" which summarizes 

 our conclusions and actions concerning the Report, are enclosed. 



Question No. 0. How many Aleuts are presently employed in the harvest of 

 seals on St. Paul? What sums have been paid to them for their work over the 

 past ten years? What percentage of their total income is this? 



Answer. In 1971. a total of 197 Aleuts (40 permanent. 157 temporary) were 

 employed on jobs related to seal harvesting. The 10-year earnings for Aleuts 

 employed in sealing are as follows : 



1962 - $420,000 



1963 772.800 



1964 879,700 



1965 808,900 



1966 821.300 



1967 816,100 



1968 784,900 



1969 827.600 



1970 905,500 



1971 965,000 



We do not know exactly what percentage of total annual income the above 

 wages represent, but we believe it constitutes more than 90 percent. Additional 

 income is derived from performing community services and from unemployment 

 insurance. 



Question No. 10. What is the dollar value of the skins given to Japan and 

 Canada under the treaty for each of the last ten years? 



Answer. The following table shows the number and estimated value of fur seal- 

 skins given to Japan and Canada during the past 10 years as required by the 

 treaty : 



