226 



and bleeding achieved unconsciousness and death much more rapidly than any 

 other method. 



6. The Research Council of the American Veterinary Medical Association 

 recommended that their Panel of Euthanasia observe the 1971 harvest and make 

 recommendations regarding all possible methods of dispatching fur seals. The 

 expenses of this panel will be paid by the Marine Mammal Resources Program. 



7. The estimated direct cost for implementation of the 1968 Task Force 

 recommendations is $124,000. 



For the i>ast several years there has been mounting criticism of the annual 

 harvest of northern .ar seals on the Pribilof Islands. The criticism has been 

 directed to the United States Government by animal protection groups such 

 as the Friends of Animals, Inc., International Society for the Protection of 

 Animals, the Humane Society of the United States. Much of the present con- 

 troversy started in 1965 when the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies 

 and the International Society for the Protection of Animals publicized the 

 harvesting methods used on harp seals and hooded seals in the Gulf of St. 

 Lawrence. This situation, together with increasing public concern with ecological 

 and environmental issues, turned attention to the fur seal on the Pribilof 

 Islands. 



One of the first critics of the Pribilof Islands operations was the World Fed- 

 eration for the Protection of Animals. Dr. Elizabeth Simpson, a veterinarian 

 from the University of Cambridge, England, represented the World Federation 

 for the Protection of Animals during her visit to the Pribilof Islands in 1967 to 

 investigate harvesting practices. Mr. Brian D. Davies, representing the Humane 

 Society of the United States, reviewed the Pribilof Islands operations at the same 

 time. Dr. Simpson concluded ". . . that the Pribilof fur seal harvest is at present 

 being carried out in a reasonably humane fashion, which could, however, be 

 improved by attention to a few details." 



Mr. Davies concluded that there were two courses of action open to those 

 interested in the welfare of animals. These are: (1) control the hunt so as to 

 minimize cruelty, or (2) abolish fur seal hunting on the Pribilof Islands. He 

 stated that, "It is not the province of this report to decide matters of principle." 



Mr. Davies made several recommendations regarding improvements in har- 

 vest methods and suggested that research be started on mechanical methods 

 of harvest, similar to those used in Federally inspected slaughterhouses. 



In 1968 the Department of the Interior appointed a Task Force to observe 

 the Pribilof harvest and to recommend changes if needed. R?pre.sentatives from 

 the National Academy of Sciences, the Humane Society of the United States, 

 the Livestock Slaughter Division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau 

 of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, and Bureau of Commercial Fisheries were on 

 the Task Force. In addition, obs3r\'ers were present from the New Brunsw^ick 

 Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the International Society 

 for the Protection of Animals. The Task Force tested several methods in an 

 attempt to find an alternative to the method of stunning and bleeding now used. 

 Methods tested included carbon dioxide induced hypoxia, electrocution, shooting, 

 and stunning with clubs and concussion bolts. 



With regard to methods of harvesting, the Task Force concluded that : none 

 of the methods tested appear to be readily or quickly adaptable to the fur seal 

 harvest at this time, and unless the problems of sorting groups and restraining 

 individual animals can be solved, otherwise effective methods of euthanasia 

 could not be used in harvesting operations. 



The 1968 Task Force Report included recommendations for the improvement 

 of operational procedures related to the fur seal harvest. These recommenda- 

 tions were directed toward increasing efficiency in dispatching and reducing 

 stress to the animals. Changes in procedures resulting from the recommendation 

 are as follows: 



Reduction in length of drives from rookeries to the harvesting fields. 



St. Paul Island. — The Task Force commented specifically on the need for 

 improvement at Northeast Point. Roads have since been extended into new 

 harvesting areas closer to traditional hauling grounds on Northeast Point as 

 well an on Polovina and Reef Rookeries, and a new harvesting area and access 

 road is being developed at Tolstoi Rookery. 



St. George Island. — Two new^ access roads and harvesting areas have been 

 developed on North Rookery. Thi.s improvement was not included in the Task 

 Force recommendations. 



Since 1968, the overall length of the drives has been reduced 61 percent from 

 15,630 to 6,080 feet on the following rookeries : 



