172 INVESTIGATION" OF THE FTJR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 



breeding ground are not less than 12 years old — most of them older. They are now 

 rapidly dying of old age — witness the following: 



An official report in 1902 declares that these breeding bulls had decreased in num- 

 ber from 1901 to the end of 1902 at least 25 per cent. 



An official report in 1903 again declares a decrease from 1902 to the end of this 

 season (1903) of 17 per cent; 42 per cent since 1901, 



The close of the season of 1904 will show at least 20 per cent reduction again; and 

 in 1905 again 20 per cent at least, to entirely cease by 1907 unless steps are taken at 

 once to stop the run on this life by land (and sea killing) clubbing in 1904 of the 

 choice young male seals, yearlings and upward, to the end of the season of 1906 — 

 stop it entirely. 



These facts of biological truth and improper violation of license to 

 kill on the islands, as above, were bitterly disputed by Dr. David 

 Starr Jordan and his "scientists," who, as hi associates of the Jordan- 

 Thompson Commission in 1896-1898, all united in denying them. But 

 Mr. Hitchcock was impressed with the truth and sense of my state- 

 ment, and issued the orders, or "Hitchcock rules," which checked up 

 that close killing I complained of, May 1, 1904. 



Then what happened? On the 26th of October, 1905, the very 

 men who, in 1904, had united with Dr. Jordan and his "scientists," 

 Stejneger, Lucas, and Townsend, confessed in an elaborate report 

 that I was right — that these regulations of Hitchcock's order had 

 been made just in time to save the breeding life of the rookeries from 

 ruin at the hands of the lessees. Witness the following: 



Department of Commerce and Labor, 



Office of the Secretary, 



Washington, October 26, 1905. 



Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report on the administration of affairs 

 on the seal islands of Alaska during the year ended August, 1905: 



There were so few bulls on certain rookeries on St. Paul Island this summer that, 

 by reason of their scarcity, the harems were broken up before the usual period and 

 bachelors were able to haul among the cows. 



Ihis occurred at a date when these young seals should have been excluded from 

 the breeding grounds by vigilant bulls, and then forced to haul up, if they desired, 

 to haul at all, only on the bachelor's hauling ground. 



This condition, in our opinion, is due to the scarcity of breeding males on the rook- 

 eries generally, and to their being so taxed in special localities with the sendee of the 

 cows that they were unable or unwilling to drive out the bachelors. Had idle bulls 

 been sufficiently numerous this condition would not have occurred. 



A stop was made at Polovina on our way from Northeast Point on the 21st, and 

 Messrs. Judge and Redpath and myself visited that lookery. We were not able to 

 verify our assumption with regard to this rookery. By reason of the flatness of the 

 approach to it. only the rearmost harems could be inspected, and those only with 

 caution, lest the cows be stampeded. While we found six 2-year old bachelors in 

 two small harems at the rear, we found also the harem formations to be much better 

 preserved than at Hutchinson Hill. The bulls seemed active in preventing the 

 escape of the cows and in rounding them up into their harems. 



The fact, however, remains that only 3 idle bulls were found on this rookery at the 

 heis-ht of the season. That the bulls present with cows were still able to maintain 

 their harems on the 21st is moie a tribute to their vitality than proof that enough 

 adult males were present. 



*(• 3fC S|C Pfi 3f» 5JC ** 



As I was taking photographs of the rookeries, I went ahead to make the necessary 

 exposures before the formation of the cows should be disturbed by the counting of 

 the harems. Mr. Judge followed with two natives and made the count. He stated 

 that the hulls were practically docile and that no trouble was experienced in pene- 

 trating the mass of seals. He stated, also, that in his opinion the bulls were taxed to 

 such an extent as to have virtually lost control of the breeding grounds, and that thL" 



