THE GAME BREEDER 01 



all such sealing for the period of fifteen caused the death of "several times as 



years. many more." 



This treaty was what all practical stu- The records show that from 1880 to 



dents of the subject had been working 1911 approximately 900,000 skins were 



for ever since the wasteful practice be- marketed by pelagic sealers, while the 



gan. The ocean sealing industry was total waste from seals shot and lost can 



suicidal and came to its logical end — pro- never be known. Along with all these 



hibition by international treaty. ' was the starvation and loss of the pups 



The mere cessation of pelagic sealing, of all breeding females killed, 



with its great waste of female and The increase in the seal herd which is 



young was sure to be followed by a rapid reported, "was due wholly to the cessa- 



increase of the breeding stock. tion of pelagic sealing" through the 



This according to the report of the com- treaty of 1911. 

 mission has naturally resulted, and an The report may be regarded as a vin- 

 important increase of the herd has taken dication of the governments methods of 

 place. They report the herd "in ex- dealing with the seal herd. Although it 

 cellent physical condition," and present is n °t likely to be any very permanent 

 statistics showing that we now have near- deterrent to those gentlemen in Con- 

 ly 300,000 seals, 93,000 of which are gress who attack the administrative de- 

 bearing females. partments from time to time for their 



The matter of surplus, males was con- own political purposes, the Pribilof Is- 



sidered in its various aspects. One male lands at Ieast appear to be entitled to a 



of this polygamous species is found to rest - 



be ample for forty females. The sur- The commission was an able one and 



plus is a natural one and after a certain {t has performed a great public service. 



percentage has been set aside for breed- * 



ing purposes, it is recommended that the FROM BAD TO WORSE. 



surplus be killed according to former The Biological Survey has issued the 



custom. It is strongly urged that the new regulations relating to the importa- 



law be repealed without delay. tion of quail from Mexico. 



The commission further sets forth Evidently the authorities have heeded 

 that failure to take and market surplus our suggestion that there is "no honor in 

 males on the islands will result in a discovering a disease when the discov- 

 minimum loss to the government of erer knows he has caused it." Instead 

 $2,700,000 by the time the period of of holding quail at the border (because 

 protection expires. some one imagines they have a disease 

 _ An important matter in this connec- which they are surely presumed not to 

 tion is the saving of the herd of blue have as wild birds) until they acquire the 

 foxes inhabiting the Pribilof Islands, disease due to confinement as was the 

 The skins of these animals, are normally rule that season. The survey now re- 

 worth $50,000 annually, but owing to the quires importers who do not own any 

 lack of seal carcases for food, have at land at the border to establish bird yards 

 present a value of only about $16,000. where the quail can be pastured for a 

 With the resumption of killing of sur- time under the eye of a politician at the 

 plus male seals, the fox herd can be expense of the importer. This is going 

 saved from starvation and be restored to from bad to worse, 

 its former importance. Even the immigration authorities do 



The commission states that it is im- not hold up healthy passengers coming 



possible to show that any land killing by from abroad in small quarters until they 



the government has been excessive. From acquire diseases. They do not require 



1890 to 1895 the total number of males them to be herded in parks because some 



killed on the islands was 80,000, while politician imagines they may have dis- 



during the same period pelagic sealers eases, 



took 295,000 seals, mostly females, and Bob white is a first-class game bird 



