FUR-SEAL. INDUSTRY OF THE COMMANDER ISLANDS 325 
' • ' Assuming again a mortality equal to that believed to occur in the Pribilof 
herd, the Commander Islands herd in 1917 should have been composed somewhat 
as follows: ; : . 
Cows ----- -- 6,640 
Black pups 6, 640 
Bulls (harem, surplus, and idle) 800 
Bachelors 5, 708 
2-year-old females 1, 609 
Yearling females 2, 066 
Yearling males 2, 052 
Total - 25, 515 
Mr. Suvorof's figures for 1917 are as follows: 
Cows 4, 982 
Pups 4, 982 
Bulls (harem, surplus, and idle) over 744 
Bachelors 2, 559 
It will be noted that he left out the yearlings, which, according to my figures, 
should have amounted to 4,118, as well as the 2-year virgins, 1,609, a total of 5,727 
seals not accounted for. Presumably the 2,559 bachelors enumerated are those 
supposed to be seen on or about the rookeries without accounting for those absent 
on the feeding grounds. Suvorof expressly stated that the number of seals on all 
the rookeries in 1917 was about 13,267, and that the total number in the Commander 
Islands herd was 16,957. With the above explanation it will be seen that there is 
less discrepancy between the figures than is apparent at first glance. At any rate, 
it seems certain that the number of seals of all classes present on the rookeries, 
including pups, yearlings, and 2-year-old females, did not exceed 18,000. 
The question now presented itself as to the number of seals to be killed in 
1917. As already noted. Article XII of the fur-seal treaty stipulates that during 
the last 10 years of that convention not less than 5 per cent of the total number of 
seals on the Russian rookeries and hauling grounds will be killed annually, pro- 
vided that said 5 per cent does not exceed 85 per cent of the 3-year-old male seals 
Jiauling in such year. 
Suvorof's figures indicate that at least 2,559 bachelors hauled out during that 
year, but apparently he did not ascertain the relative number of the various year 
classes, which would, in fact, have been an impossible task. It is thought, however, 
that no matter what figures we accept for the total the number of 3-year-old males 
hauled out did not exceed 700. The Russians would consequently not have been 
required to kill more than 600 seals all told; but that article of the treaty provides 
further that if the total number of seals frequenting the Russian islands in any 
year falls below 18,000, as enumerated by official count, killing may be suspended. 
It is taken for granted that by "frequenting" the treaty means hauling ashore, 
for surely nobody, not even an official count, can enumerate the thousands of 
seals remaining hundreds of miles away at sea without going ashore. As stated 
above, it is almost certain that even under the highest estimate the number 
