TABLES SHOWING FOOD OF SEALS. 67 



If the seals do liot affect the fisheries of so small a place as Bering Island, it is not 

 likely that they will do so elsewhere. 



Finally, since the seal feeds on squid and fishes which are found near the surface 

 in comparatively deep water, and invariably seeks its food at some distance from land, 

 it is evident that a closed zone of 60 miles about the islands can give but a small 

 measure of protection. 



It has been suggested that the migration of the seals from the islands is influenced 

 by the departure and movements of migratory fishes on which they feed. There are, 

 however, no migratory fishes in Bering Sea, and it is not likely that the movements 

 of the seals in the North Pacific is in any important way modified by the movements 

 of such fishes as the salmon in its movement toward the rivers for purposes of spawn- 

 ing. These fishes do not go far out in the sea, and, while the seals feed upon them 

 when they can be had, there is no reason to suppose that the seals go out of their way 

 to follow sach fishes. The general direction and extent of the fur seals' migration are 

 directed by its homing instinct. The movement of the herd from day to day is prob- 

 ably in a measure dependent upon the food supply, the seals tarrying to feed where 

 food is abundant and moving on when it becomes scarce. The departure of the seals 

 from the islands is not due to the departure of the fishes on which it feeds in summer, 

 but simply due to the coming on of the severe weather of winter. The fur seals of 

 the southern islands do not migrate, and the climatic conditions obviate the necessity 

 of their doing so. 



The following species are actually known to be eaten as food by the fur seal : 



Squid, Gonatus ammwus. 



Octopus, Octopus sp. 



Pollock, Theragra chaleogramma. 



Seal-fish, Therobromus oallorlwni. 



Kockfisb, Sebastodes alntiis. 



Salmon, Oncorliynohus kisutch. 



Lamprey, Untosphenus tridentatua. 



Cod, Gadus macrocephalus. 



Wolf-fish, Anarickas lepturua. 



Stickleback, ' Gasterosteus cataphractus. 



Sculpin.' 



Unknown. 



The following shows the total amount of food eaten by 36 seals during the month 

 of April in the Gulf of Alaska : 



Squid 726 



Eockfish 20 



Salmon 2 



Pollock 2 



Sundry 12 



Total 762 



' There is a slight doubt in regard to these fishes, as they may have been swallowed out of cariosity. 

 This is the more probable since the sculpins, wuich were identified from odd bones, were small indi- 

 viduals and not the large species so common in Bering Sea. 



