The reporting of tage 
in 1928 and again in 1949 re- 
sulted from definite efforts to 
obtain these data, which repre- 
sent a minimum of the actual 
number of Pribilof tags probably 
taken. Undoubtedly most of the 
tags found on illegally taken 
seals are discaried and never 
reported because the fishermen 
fear they will be used against 
them as evidence of poaching. 
Still sore may be overlooked or 
are thrown away because the 
fishermen are unaware of their 
value. FProbably much less than 
one-half of the tagged seals 
taken are reported, and the 
actual kill of Pribilof seals 
ie correspondingly greater. 
Again, only a eamall fraction of 
the seals wintering off Japan 
are killed. Considering all the 
evidence, it ie therefore ex- 
tremely likely that the number 
of Pribilof seals wintering off 
Japan, while much less than the 
one-half of the Pribilof popu- 
lation claimed by the Japanese 
(p 25), ie still much greater 
; than American authorities have 
Figure 12. - Tage from Pribilof seals re- suspected heretofore. 
covered in Japanese waters in 1943 and 1949 
2. Abundance 
Data on the number of seals wintering off Japan are so fragmentary and unreliable 
that the authors are extremely reluctant to hazard an eetimate. Nevertheless, the order 
of magnitude suggested by the available evidence should be explored. 


The extent of the fur seal wintering grounds in the waters off Japan is readily 
determined from the records of the sealing schooners which formerly operated in Japanese 
waters (Stejneger, op cit, 1698) and from ths records of more recent captures listed by 
the Minietry of Agriculture and Forestry (Bibl 286). According to these sources, practi- 
eally all occurrences of fur seals off the Pacific Ocean side of Japan are contained in the 
area bounded on the south by the 36th parallel of north latitude, on the sast by the 149th 
meridian of east longitude, and on the west and north by Honehu, Hokkaido, and the southern 
Korile (Figure 13). 
An accurate census of the number of seals occupying this wintering ground at any 
one time is virtually impossible. To estimate the number of animals in a herd of seals in 
the water with any reasonable degree of accuracy defies the skill of the most experienced 
observer. The density of seals varies continuously over the entire area, which is much too 
large to cover completely in a single season. However, some idea can be gained as to the 
limits of probabilities by applying to the entire range densities observed in certain parte 
of the area. 
During Natural Resources Section's investigations in the winter of 1949 an accu- 
rate count was kept of all seals observed and of the area of sea surface covered. The area 
scanned during each day's run is based on the range of visibility, estimated to average 100 
yarde on each side of the vessel] during all weather conditions. On calm days this distance 
