PROPORTION OF MALES TO FEMALES TAKEN. 



267 



the feeding grounds off the rookeries. Although Captain Funcke secured 797 seals 

 during the migration, of which 497 were males and 300 females, while on the feeding 

 grounds off the rookeries during July and August he obtained 54 males and 243 

 females, 297 altogether. In other words, the proportion of males taken during the 

 migration to the number of females was 5 males to 3 females^ while on the feeding 

 grounds the ratio was 2 males to 9 females. The latter proportion agrees well with the 

 experience of most other sealers, but the preponderance of males in the spring catch 

 is not necessarily to be taken as the normal condition. Whether a sealer during the 

 migration falls in with males or females depends largely upon accident, as is well 

 exemplified by Captain Fuiicke's entry on May 21, when he took 19 males and 4 

 females: "8 p. m. spoke the British sealer Pioneer. Captain Baker reports having got 

 35 seals, with one boat yet out, having hunted in sight of us and having about 20 large 

 cows iu his day's catch, while our seals were nearly all young males and small cows." 



As another good example of this character I may mention the experience of the 

 American schooner Elsie off Japan during the spring migration, 1897. The proportion 

 of the total catch was 2 males to nearly 5 females. During the two days, May 11 

 and 12, however, the catch consisted of 88 males and 31 females, or over 5 males to 2, 

 females, while on the very next day (May 13) the proportions were reversed to 1 male 

 to nearly 20 females. 



In a general way. Captain Puncke's experience in 1897 was similar — that is to say, 

 he obtained more males than females during the migrations, while the number of males 

 to females on the feeding grounds was about as 1 to 4. The preponderance of males 

 in the spring catch, however, was very slight and goes to further corroborate the above 

 statement that the proportion between the sexes, as secured during the migration, is 

 greatly influenced by accident. 



TABLES OP CATCHES, 1890-1897. 



The detailed figures of the entire Asiatic pelagic catch is given in my Russian Fur. 

 Seal Islands, 1741-1897, antea, pages 122-132. The following extract relates exclu- 

 sively to the spring catch off the coast of Japan. 



Tear. 



1890. 

 1891. 

 1892. 

 1893. 

 1894. 

 1895. 

 1896. 

 1897. 



Total . 



United 



States. 



176 



1,687 



vli, 064 



24, 320 



33,717 



11,301 



4,649 



1,273 



9,487 



Canada. 



30, 617 

 48. 993 

 18, 687 

 17, 968 

 7,321 



123, 686 



Japan. 



965 

 4,684 

 3,461 

 4,414 



13, 524 



Total. 



476 

 1,687 

 12, 064 

 54, 937 

 83, 675 

 34, 672 

 26, 078 

 14, 463 



228, 062 



The average catch per vessel in these years can not be ascertained with absolute 

 certainty for some of the years on account of deficient returns, but from 1892 to 1897 

 we know the average catch for a certain number of vessels to have been as follows : 



Tear. 



1892. 

 1893., 

 1894.. 

 1895. 

 1896. 

 1897. 



Nnmber of 

 vessels. 



Average . 



per vessel 



(skins). 



1,508 



1,609 



1,023 



833 



628 



482 



