ALASKA. 113 



could have been taken from the islands, it being thought that 

 this number (12,200) was only one twenty-fifth of the whole ; 

 but instead of killing 12,200, only 4,052 were taken, leaving in 

 1835, for breeding, 8,148 fresh young seals, males and females, 

 together. 



In making this hypothetical table of seals that are to come, 

 I take the average killing, that is, one-eighth part, and proceed 

 on the supposition that the number of saved seals will not be 

 less than 7,060. 



In the number of 7,060 seals we can calculate upon 3,600 

 females ;^^that is, a slight majority of males. With the new 

 females bdrn under this " zapooska" I place half of those born 

 the first year, and so on. 



Females, in the twelve or eighteen years next after their birth, 

 must become less in number from natural causes, and by the 

 twenty-second year of their lives they-must be quite useless for 

 breeding. 



Of the number of seals which may be born during the next 

 four years of " zapooska," or longer, we may take half for, 

 females. This number is included in the table, and the males, 

 or " holluschickie," make up the total. 



From the II Table, observe that — 



1. Old females, that is, those which in 1835 were capable of 

 bearing young, in 1850 must be canceled, (minus.) They prob- 

 ably die in proportion of one-eighth of the whole number every 

 year. 



2. For the first four years of zapooska, until the new females 

 begin to bear, their number will be generally less. 



3. A constant number of seals will continue during the first 

 six years of their zapooska ; in twelve years these seals will 

 double, in fourteen years they will have increased threefold ; 

 and after fifteen years of this zapooska or saving of 7,060, in 

 the first year 24,000 may be taken from them, in the second 

 28,000, in the third 32,000, in the fourth 36,000, in the fifth 41,000; 

 thus in five years more that 160,000 can be taken. Then, under 

 the supervision of persoBs who will see that one-fifth of the 

 seals be steadily spared, 32,000 may be taken every year for a 

 long time. 



4. Moreover, from the production of fifteen years " zapooska" 

 there can be taken from 60,000 to 70,000 holluschickie, which, 

 together with 160,000 seal8,^makes 230,000. 



5. If this "zapooska" for the next fifteen years is not made 



8 AL 



