AVERAGE DAILY CATCH. 



269 



each week of the spring season from 1893 to 1896. It is gratifying to find that the lines 

 which are based upon the few (39) vessels from which we possess detailed returns. in 

 their totality agree with the averages per vessel previously given for the entire fleet 

 (p. 267 and pi. 110). It will also be noted that there are certain maxima for the average 

 catch per vessel which in the main agree with the maxima for the total catch, if we 

 ■only remember that the sudden rises and falls of the lines at both ends of the 

 diagram are due to the fact that at the beginning and at the end of the season only a 

 few vessels are sealing and that a few lucky catches result in great fluctuations of the 

 averages. This diagram, besides proving more in detail that the seals are decreasing, 

 seems to indicate that the catches during May— that is, during the time of the stay of 

 seals in the Gulf of Mororan— have been decreasing proportionally less than farther 

 south. The explanation of this is easy if we look at the density chart, plate 113. It 

 will be seen that the gross of the seal herd in the locality mentioned is confined to a 

 much more restricted area; in other words, that they are less widely diffused and 

 consequently more easily taken at that particular time and that particular place. 

 The greatest damage to the herd during late years is done then and there. 



Before closing it may be well to again cast a glance at the diagrams on plate 110, 

 especially diagram b, showing the average catch per vessel in Asiatic waters, in 

 order to get an idea of the comparative importance of the spring catch off" Japan and 

 the summer catch off" the Russian islands. It will then be seen that the overwhelming 

 number of skins are taken during the migrations and that so far as numbers alone are 

 concerned the damage on the feeding grounds appears comparatively slight. From 

 the sealer's standpoint, consequently, the " Copper Island grounds " are very unim- 

 portant. "When it is remembered, however, that the catch on the latter consists 

 almost entirely of nursing females, whose pups are doomed to starvation on the 

 rookeries, it wiU be seen that the injury to the herd is very serious indeed. 



Average catch per 'hunting day for each weelc of the spring season, 189S-1896. 

 [Based upon log entries of 39 schooners.] 



1893 (11 vessels). 



Hunting days 



Catch 



Average catch per 

 hunting day 



1894 (6 vessels). 



Hunting days 



Catch 



Average catch per 

 hunting day 



1895 (13 vessels). 



Hunting days 



Catch 



Average catch per 

 hunting day 



1896 (9 vessels). 



Hunting days 



Catch . i 



Average catch per 

 hunting day 



Weets. 



1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 2.3. 24. 25, 



27 



16 



17 



10 



2S 



25 



35 



32 



10 



15 27 

 526 3,414 



35 



52 



19 

 561 



30 



28 

 367 



13 



37 

 546 



15 



31 

 1,131 



53 



705 



26 

 356 



14 



30 



40 

 1,940 



48 



17 

 460 



41 

 788 



374 

 10 



10 

 112 



70 

 1,533 



22 



543 

 15 



18 

 462 



26 



61 

 911 



41 

 657 



16 



48 

 1,926 



19 

 422 



21 

 221 



606 

 18 



38 35 

 1, 244 837 



21 

 331 



43 

 665 



23 

 242 



11 



19 



14 



54 

 1,748 



25 

 636 



25 



34 

 324 



10 



27 

 257 



44 23 20 

 1, 088 452 345 



23 21 17 



10 



155 



16 



35 

 260 



