Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 171, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 July 1920 — TO NUMBER FUR SEALS [ARTICLE]

TO NUMBER FUR SEALS

Dr. Dallas Hanna Will Make New Census. Purpose Is to Determine How Many Seals Can Be Removed Each Year. San Francisco.—-Dr. G. Dallas Hanna, a member of the staff of the California Academy of Science, has just left here for Alaska, where he will make a census of the fur seals on the* Priblloff islands, under the direction of the United States bureau of fisheries. Doctor Hanna has been connected with this work each year since 1913. In 1919 it was reported that there were 540,000 animals in the herd. In 1910 when the government first took over the operation of the Island industry, there were fewer than 200,000. During the time when this Increase Was taking place enough surplus and useless males have been killed and their skins sold at auction to provide the national treasury with $3,500,000 above all expenses, according to W. W. Sargeant, secretary of the California Academy of Science. The purpose of the census is’chiefly to determine how many animals can be safely removed each year and still provide for a maximum percentage of Increase of the herd. If the increase in 1920 continues as heretofore, it is said that there should be about 600,000 of these amphibious fur bearers, by far the largest herd in existence, as well as a surplus of about 30,000 males which can be killed for their skins. At current prices of these furs they will be valued at about $3,000,000. "Since the cost of operation will be

fess than $200,000, it is quite evident that this Industry is one of the best financial enterprises the government has,” said Mr. Sargeant. "It Is capable of almost unlimited expansion, provided the females are protected at sea and the surplus males are removed from the herd. The fighting of such males on the crowded rookeries causes a large mortality among the females and young. “The carcasses of the animals killed were formerly allowed to waste, but last year a by-product plan was put Into operation by means of which It is expected a very superior oil and animal meal will be placed on the market. The census which will be taken in 1920 will enable a close approximation to be the quantities of these products which will be available In the immediate future.”