KS 4 vehi * a4 ay Ras a} Cot sy ekiers : = = eee setees See ae niger pat hese ION ene ee A tah, ee ety = A Re oe Fig Gala Ppa eee Pda ad Fes Tage TORE CORNELL UNIVERSITY THE Koswmell P. Flower Library THIS BOOK |S THE GIFT OF Pierre. Ruqustine Fish, 2.92... M.... aang ne , a ee lbs ks iS ‘AR p ae ae wi aye apy ¥ VAS i] ornell University Libra DATE DUE See OF GAYLORD THE . FUR: SEALS AND FUR-SEAL ISLANDS OF THE 4, NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN. me = = | BY oy DAVID STARR JORDAN, President of Leland Stanford Jr. University, ee COMMISSIONER IN CHARGE OF FUR-SEAL INVESTIGATIONS OF 1896-97. WITH THE FOLLOWING OFFICIAL ASSOCIATES: LEONHARD STEJNEGER and FREDERIC A. LUCAS, Of the U. S. National Museum. JEFFERSON F. MOSER, Lieutenant-Commander, U.S. N., In Command of the U. S. Fish Commission Steamer Albatross “CHARLES H. TOWNSEND, deeb €e Of the U. S. Fish Commission, Aoi : as ay GEORGE A. CLARK, Secretary and Stenographer. JOSEPH MURRAY, Special Agent. WITH SPECIAL PAPERS BY OTHER CONTRIBUTORS. PART 2. WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, 1898. \ ’ doh ‘ No-4+056 CONTRIBUTORS OF PAPERS ON SPECIAL SUBJECTS. WILLIAM H. ASHMEAD, NATHAN BANKS, oO. FULLER COOK, DANIEL W. COQUILLET, WILLIAN H. DALL, WILLIAM R. DUDLEY, HARRISON G. DYAR, ELMER E. FARMER, PIERRE A. FISH, CHARLES H. GILBERT, ALBERT HASSALL, MARTIN LINNELL, JAMES M. MACOUN, SH 36f USE ba Ze At JENNIE C. MILLER, WALTER MILLER, WILLIAM PALMER, MARY J. RATHBUN, WILLIAM E. RITTER, JOSEPH N. ROSE, EUGENE A. SCHWARZ, ROBERT E. SNODGRASS, WILLIAM A. SNOW, CHARLES W. STILES, WILBUR W. THOBURN, FREDERICK W. TRUE. PART II. OBSERVATIONS ON THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS, 1872-1897, AS EXTRACTED FROM THE LOG OF ST. PAUL ISLAND, AND AS RECORDED IN THE DAILY JOURNAL OF THE COMMISSION OF 1896 AND 1897. 15184, pr 2——1 251 Cornell University The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924000936488 TABLE OF CONTENTS. INtPOMMGEOTY NOTE) aio... scis ics ascieee amiccgemees mec edSanne Sines bee seeuinacinteWnsebaseds otde sieves 254 Distio Featentas * This is a regular phenomenon of the breeding grounds. After July’ 25 the old bulls begin to withdraw and the idle and young bulls enter the breeding grounds. It will be noted here that there are reserve bulls to take the places of the regular beach masters. * The scarcity of 3-year-olds is not unnatural after the quota of 100,000 has been taken. ‘See same record for 1896, and compare with that of 1877 showing proportion of bulls rejected in the drives. From the irregular and uncertain movements of the bachelors it is plain that no defi- nite determination of their relative condition from year to year can be made. Their movements are governed largely by the state of the weather. The subsequent record shows no dearth of breeding males when the reserves of this year came to enter the rookeries in 1880. 5 See note 2 under date of July 25, ‘Compare statement under date of August 4. “~ RECORD OF GEORGE MARSTON. 265 mean width of 1,200 feet, equal to 1054 acres. The westward cliffs are bold, attaining @ height of 350 feet, October 21.—A large school of “killers” was observed near East Landing. RECORD KEPT BY GEORGE MARSTON. November 6.—The natives were informed that the number of pups to be killed for food would have to be cut down to 3,000, as it had been too large. This was objected to, and a compromise placed the number at 3,800. November 11.—The total of pups killed for the year was 3,745. November 16.—A drive of seals for food was made from Tolstoi , where trey were found in good numbers. A number of old bulls got into the drive.! November 21.—There are a good number of seals on Reef rookery; afew old bulls. November 27.—A visit to Lukanin showed but a few seals there. November 30.—The seals have gone from the Reef. December 29.—Natives returning from Northeast Point report 2,000 seals still there. 1876. January 15.—Seals were seen to-day in the water off East Landing. March 12.?—Four or 5 seals were reported in the water off North Shore. April 27.—The native chief reports 2 seals in the water off the Reef. March 3.—The chief reports 2 old bulls hauled out at the Reef this morning, the first seen this season. May 5.—While walking about the Reef 13 old bulls were seen—8 hauled out and 5 in the water. : May 17.—The first bull came on Na Spil rookery to-day. Quite a number of old bulls are on the different rookeries. They begin growling and snapping at each other, “acting as if at home.” June 1.—On the Reef are a goodly number of bulls, but few holostiaki. The rookery appears now about the same as it did last year ten days earlier. - June 2.—About 500 holostiaki have hauled out at Southwest Bay and many old bulls are on the rookery. June 3.—First drive for skins from Southwest Bay; 836 animals were killed. June 4.—Captain Bryant, after a visit to all the rookeries, concludes they are just about ten days later than last year. June 5.—The first female of the season came to Na Spil to-day; the old bulls had a hard fight for her. June 6,—A drive was made from the Reef and 673 seals killed. From the above drive 80 were turned back, some able-bodied males, some that will be able for duty in a year or two,’ and some yearlings too small. June 14.—Captain Bryant made a visit to the Reef and found about 200 bachelors on the point, 100 on the south side, and some 200 on Zoltoi. Five females were landed in the bight on Gorbatch. About 20 per cent less bulls are on the breeding grounds than at the same date last year. In the afternoon a visit was made to Kitovi and * 1In this note we have proof of the return of the old bulls after feeding. 2 Evidently the bachelor seals have not left the vicinity of the islands this winter. 3 See reference to scarcity of reserves in preceding year, July 10 and 25. 266 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Lukanin and but few bachelors were found. Thirty per cent! Jess bulls are presevt than were out at this time last year. June 23.—Captain Bryant found quite a number of females on Tolstoi and many 1 and 2 year old seals along the different rookeries about the bay. He thought there was a lack of bulls. June 25.—A party of natives were sent to drive off the seals on Otter Island. About 5,009 were driven off. On the 18th 2,000 were driven off. June 26.—A drive from Zoltoi gave 862 seals. A raid was made to-day on Otter Island; 370 seals were killed. July 10.—A drive from Tolstoi yielded 2,039 seals. Several schooners are shoot- ing seals about the island.” July 29.—A drive from Zoltoi gave 1,040 skins. The average of seals killed to the whole drive was 12 per cent,® the others being mostly yearlings. August 1.—A drive of seals from Lukanin gave 1,538 good skins; the drive was large, but only 7 per cent of them were fit to kill, the greater part being last year’s pups. August 2.—The drive from Tolstoi and Middle Hill yielded 2,139 seals. This drive was much better than yesterday’s, yielding 40 per cent.‘ Sealing was closed for the season. August 17.—A drive for food was made from Kitovi and 134 killed; 5 stagy. A large number of females were found hauled with the bachelors. August 23.—A drive for food from Kitovi yielded 207 good and 7 stagy skins. About 25 per cent of the drive was over one year old and no females were mixed in. RECORD KEPT BY CHARLES BRYANT. September 10.—A visit to Reef and Lukanin showed a large number of seals, mostly pups and yearlings. The pups seem to be twenty days to one month behind last year and to have suffered from the bad weather of the past month. October 7.—At a drive for food from Zoltoi, 133 seals were killed, all stagy. Exam- ination of the rookeries shows that the pups are hovering on the uplands; a large number have not yet begun to shed their pup hair.’ There are very few bulls on the shores and those mostly yearlings. October 14.—A visit to the Reef showed pups in good numbers on the uplands. They seem smaller in size for this time of year than they should be, and backward about shedding their first hair. Few females are on the shore. Only a few holostiaki are on the lower end of the Reef. ' These references to reduction of bulls can only be conjectures. They doubtless form a con- tinuation of the conditions depicted by Captain Bryant the year preceding. See notes date of July 10, 25, ete., 1875, and record for 1877 ff. ?Tt is evident from this that irregular pelagic sealing was carried on prior to 1883 in Bering Sea. * This must be an error, as the drive would under these circumstances have numbered 8,600. In the note of August 1 a similar but more striking error occnrs, since the average of seals killed would make the drive number 21,900 seals, which would he impossible. ‘The reference here aud under date of August 23 would seem to indicate the appearance of fresh seals, making it likely that the earlier scarcity of these seals was due to temporary causes 5 The natives are said to have reported that the sea birds they shot late in Hameeiven were late also in shedding their feathers. That many black pups should be found at this time is not st Such pups were to be seen after the middle of October in 1896, They merely represent belated i RECORD OF CHARLES BRYANT, 267 October 31.—A drive for food from Tolstoi gave 163 seals, all stagy. The drive contained a good proportion of 5 and 6 year olds! with a few females. November 12.—It took the sea-lion drive six days to come down from Northeast Point; 188 were killed. Novenibar 15.—Pups were driven from Kitovi and Lukanin for food; only 400 were obtained. The earlier-born pups have left the island. November 16.—Pups were driven from the south side of the Reef and 1,172 taken. November 17.—Another drive from the Reef gave 1,172. November 19.—The Reef was redriven? and 706 were obtained. These must Lave come ashore since the former drives. November 22.—An attempt to drive pups from Tolstoi failed on account of their having left. Reports from Zapadni show a few youig seals there. Females without pups are on the shore and quite a number of bachelors are on the hauling ground of Tolstoi. ; November 23.—Men were sent to Zapadni to drive pups, but they were all gone and holostiaki had to be driven instead. This is the first time since the transfer of the islands to the United States that there has been difficulty in getting the young seals, there usually being considerable numbers late in December.? The theory of the natives is that the greater mass of young seals (pups) were driven into the water during the severe snowstorm and gale on the 30th of October, and that they were unable to find the shore again and had gone away, while their mothers, being stronger and better able, returned to the shore without them.‘ November 29.—A visit to the Reef shows that most of the females have gone and that there are only a few bachelors on the point. December 2.—Reports from Northeast Point show very few seals there. It is plain that the seals have left the island about a month earlier than usual.® December 9.—A visit to Tolstoi discloses the fact that there are 200 or 300 seals hauled up there. December 13.—A food drive is made from Tolstoi; 825 are taken; a few are stagy. The entire drove contained about 5 per cent of half bulls,® 50 per cent of 2, 3, and 4 year olds, and the remainder yearlings. An examination of Reef rookery shows a few seals in the water, but none on shore; a few hundred are on Sea Lion Rock. Reports from Northeast Point and other rookeries show that the séals have nearly all left the islaud. December 21.7—A few seals are reported at Northeast Point. 1 See reference to scarcity of young bulls under earlier dates for the year. ?This and the two preceding entries are interesting as showing the effect of disturbance on the- rookeries. 3The records of other years show that it was usual for the pups to leave with their mothers in the first half of November. ‘It is therefore not strange that they should be wanting in-the latter part of November. 4Captain Bryant observes, in this connection, that Kitovi and Lukanin rookeries would ordinarily have furnished the required 4,000 or 5,000 pups—male pups, of course. This gives some index to the size of the rookeries then, their yield being about 10,000 pups. Captain Bryant remarks also that we may expect a larger proportion of the pups to be lost at sea. The thought seems never to have occurred to him that the slaughter of the pups so earneétly sought for food tended to still further diminish them. As a matter of fact no scarcity of killable seals was noted from this cause in 1879, when the quota must have been made up of these pups. 5 See later entries in the log showing the return of the seals. 6 See earlier notes on scarcity of young bulls. TNo further record is made in the Journal until May 15. 15184, pr 2——2 268 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 1877. RECORD KEPT BY J. M. MORTON. May 16.—No bachelor seals are to be seen on the rookeries; 2 sea lions are on Sea Lion Rock. May 17.—The first seal appears at Village Hill (Spilki) rookery. May 21.—The chief reports about 60 bachelor seals at Reef Point. May 22.—Two bulls land at Village Hill (Spilki) rookery; a drive of 329 seals is made from the Reef for food. May 23.—Natives return from Otter Island and report no seals. May 29.—Northeast Point shows 60 young seals hauled out; 34 sea lions are driven; the sea lion cows are beginning to give birth to the pups. May 30.—Several hundred young seals are hauled out at Halfway Point. May 31.—About 300 young seals are at Reef Point. June 3.—Apparently about 800 young seals are at Southwest Bay. June 4.—Of the animals driven to day, 144 per cent were allowed to escape, being undersized; 5 per cent! were 5 and 6 year animals. June 5.—The drive to-day consisted mainly of 3 and 4 year olds; 6 per cent were allowed to escape, being 5 and 6 year animals; 94 per cent were small. June 6.—Many “killers” were seen to-day, and several seals bear evidence of having been attacked by them. June 7.—No young seals are on the Reef and a scarcity of this class is reported at Northeast Point. June 9.—Of the seals driven to-day 15 per cent, large and small, were allowed to return to the water. Nine females are seen at Lukanin, being the first reported this year. June 11.—A house is being built on Otter Island as a residence for a lieutenant and two sailors, who are to guard that island.’ June 12.,—Of animals driven to-day about 20 per cent were too small, and allowed to return to the water; of the rejected 7 per cent were of 5 years and upward. RECORD KEPT BY J. H. MOULTON. June 13.—Of the animals driven to-day most were 3, 4 and 5 year olds; about 30 per cent were allowed to escape, 12 to 20 per cent being aged 5 years and upward. June 14.—Of the drive to-day 20 per cent were undersized; 10 per cent were of 5 years and upward.’ July 29.—The young seals (pups) are hauling out by themselves; the cows are off in the water. August 4.—The skins from Northeast Point (20,348) were shipped to-day. Thetotal from St. Paul for the year is 60,526; from the two islands, 75,526.' ‘With this and subsequent entries compare the statement of Captain Bryant regarding the scarcity of bulls in the rookeries during the past two seasons. We are forced to conclude that Captain Bryant’s are merely erroneons conjectures. 2So persistent had been the attempts to raid this island that, on account of its isolated position, it was deemed necessary to station a guard there. 3Jt is probable that these figures were taken with a view torefuting Captain Bryant’s statements in 1875 and 1876 regarding the scarcity of males for breeding purposes, and they effectually do so. 41 The reduction in the quota was voluntary on the part of the lessees. RECORD OF J. M. MORTON. 269 August 10.—Not. more than 15 or 20 seals are reported on Otter Island to-day. August 27.—Lieutenant Rogers reports no seals on Otter Island. October 13.—A great change hastaken place in the appearance of the seal rookeries within a few days past. Thelarge seals arein the water and the small ones are hauled out on the water’s edge. October 24.—A food drive was made to-day and 140 killed, all stagy.! November 8.—The natives began to drive pup seals for food. November 12.—Driving of pups for winter food was completed, a total of 5,007 pups having been killed. ° December 25.—Several thousand seals are reported hauled up on Sea Lion Rock. 1878. January 4.—Great numbers of seals are still in the water about the island and on Sea Lion Rock. January 15.2—The natives report large numbers of seals in the water about the islands. RECORD KEPT BY J. M. MORTON. May 1.—The first seal was seen in the water to-day. May 6.—Two bull seals and two sea lions are reported at Northeast Point. May 7.—Snow and ice still prevent the free landing of seals. May 9.—T wo bulls are on Gorbatch rookery. May 11.—Four bulls are reported on Gorbatch; 2 at Reef; 1 at Kitovi; 1 at Lagoon; several at Zapadni. May 19.—Seals are killed for food on Sea Lion Rock, 206 in all. May 26.—At Reef Point from 200 to 300 bachelors are hauled out. May 29.—The first seals arrive at Zoltoi to day. June 5.—Observations on Gorbatch rookery show that the bulls are appearing somewhat behind time. June 8.—Driving for the quota was begun to-day from the Reef; 21 per cent were rejected as too small and about 5 per cent as too big—five years and upward. June 10.—Three cows were seen at Lukanin, the first for this season. June 18,—The quota of 82,000 skins was completed to-day. RECORD KEPT BY J. H. MOULTON. August 31.—The month has been unusually wet. The seal rookeries and grounds, however, present about the same appearance this year as at the end of August last ear. P October 18.—A drove of 125 sea lions were killed for food. October 31.—The small seals are leaving in schools every day. No bachelor seals are to be seen on the hauling grounds of this end of the islands. November 1.—Food drives of pups begun. 1 Attention is directed here and elsewhere throughout this record to the waste involved in thus killing seals while their skins were in a condition unsuitable for use. In the same connection should be noted the waste of the pups as indicated by the record for November 12. 2No further record until May 1. 270 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. November 8.—A final drive of 571 pups was made from Zoltoi and Reef. The total number of pups killed was 5,206, the increase over last year being allowed because of the absence of bachelors. November 9.—A few cows and pups are still to be seen on the several rookeries, November 30.—The month of November has been warm. A few thousand seals are to be seen on the islands at various points; 300 or 400 are hauled out on Sea Lion Rock. December 17.—Seals in large numbers are to be seen daily on the islands and in the water. December 31.—A few hundred seals are hauled out on Sea Lion Rock and hundreds are in the water on all sides of the island. 1879. January 21.—A few hundred seals are hauled out on Sea Lion Rock, and a few are seen nearly every day on all sides of the island in the water. April 29.—One seal is out on Zoltoi and 1 on Reef rookery; a number are in the water on both sides of the village. May 3.—Chief reports bulls on all rookeries except Tolstoi and Polovina. May 9.—Bulls are arriving in large numbers daily; 16 are already on Lukanin; 15 bachelors are hauled out near Tolstoi, and quite a number can be seen on Sea Lion Rock. May 15.—The chief reports many bulls on all the rookeries; about 50 bachelors are at Southwest Bay. , May 16.—The chief reports many bulls at Northeast Point. RECORD KEPT BY J. W. BEAMAN. May 31.—The quota is fixed for the year at 80,000 from St. Paul, 20,000 from St. George. June 2.—The first regular drive was made to-day from Reef, 162 skins. Seals are appearing in considerable numbers on all the rookeries. This figure should be ccntraste’ with Elliott's estimate for 1874 of 260 breeding families for this rookery. RECORD OF J. W. BEAMAN 271 June 23.,—A drivé from Middle Hall and Tolstoi yielded 2,300 skins; about 25 per cent of the drove were released. More cows are out on Nah Speel rookery. June-24.—A drive was made from Southwest Bay and.1,822 skins taken. A walk along the driveway showed that many seals had fallen out on account of the heat and the length of the drive. July 2.—At the drive from Lukanin and Zoltoi, 1,885 skins were taken; about 25 per cent were released! on account of the size, being 5-year-olds and upward. July 4.—Cows are still arriving on Nah Speel (Spilki) rookery; about 80 per cent have pups. July 9.—We found on passing around the Lagoon the bodies of numerous dead seals with fur on, probably 100.” July 10.—The bad weather of the week has driven the seals from the hauling grounds so that only 11,978 skins were taken during the four working days. July 12,—The guard on Otter Island pens the hauling out of several hundred seals, which he drove off. RECORD KEPT BY H. G. OTIS. July 16.—To-day ends the sealing season; a drive was made from Middle Hill, yielding 2,282 skins, making up the full quota for the island. July 27.—At ‘a conference with the native chiefs complaint was made by them that the smoke and offal from the oil-making plant was driving away the seals. The agent promised to report the complaint to the Treasury Department.’ RECORD KEPT BY J. W. BEAMAN. July 29.—In footing up the tally sheets it was found that the quota has been exceeded this year to the extent of 572 skins, and these were withdrawn and charged to quota of 1880. July 31.—The Reef was visited to-day; the hauling grounds are thickly covered. A pup was taken from the Reef plateau for dissection and investigation by Dr. White. The rookeries seemed quite destitute of cows, which were probably off in the water. August 1.—The pup taken from the Reef was examined for heart pulsation and respiration; heart pulsation 22 to one-fourth minute; respiration 12 to the minute. August 4.—The young pup from the Reef was probably not a week old, but was provided with a full set of teeth in upper jaw, viz,20. The nerve running to the whiskers was found to be very large. August 5.—The Reef was visited. Seals were quite thickly hauled upon the plateau. The inspirations of pups were counted; result in one case, 10 in one minute; in another, 23 in three minutes; a 4-year-old bull gave 12 in three minutes. There are 16 teeth in the lower jaw of a pup. August 8.—On Reef seals are hauled out about as usual. The young half bulls seem to be holding pods of two or three cows on the upper grounds away from the water edge. i1This should be contrasted with Captain Bryant’s claim that a sufficient reserve was not being left in 1875 and 1876. 2These were evidently seals that had died on drives from Zapadni or Tolstoi. 3 What credence was given this absurd complaint is not known. The seals show utter indifference to the smoke of the vessels that ply about the islands. 272 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. August 13.—Seals are out in force on Tolstoi rookery. Fewer seals are on the hauling grounds, as the bachelors are now distributed over the rookery. August 16.—A pup taken from Speel, upon dissection, showed the foramen ovale and the ductus arteriosus to be open. These duets near the heart are usually closed up after birth in the animal world. The bulls have left the rookeries within a few days, making not far from three months’ shore duty without food or entering the water. August 18.—It is reported that seals have not hauled on Otter Island for two weeks. August 20.—Three seals were examined by Dr. White. In all cases the foramen ovale and the ductus arteriosus were closed. They were found open only in the two months’ old pup from Speel. Microscopic examination revealed a probable parasite to the flat parasitic worm that infests the intestines of the seal. The long, flat worm is found in the upper part of the bowels. The cylindrical worm, with pointed conical ends, is only in the stomach, so far as observed.’ August 22.—The plateau of the Reef was quite uniformly covered with cows, pups, and bachelors. The females are more silvery gray” in appearance than formerly. All appear fat and healthy. August 23.—The seals were found hauled out in large numbers over and well back from the rookeries. In a pup which was found dead on the rookery ground at Lukanin the foramen ovale was found open and the ductus arteriosus was short, large, and open. This pup was evidently newly born at the time of death, which must have taken place ten days at least before this date. No bladder was found, but a large duet passing from the umbilicus to the urinal vent. August 26.—Found a dead female seal 3 years old cast upon the rocks along Speel. She was given to Dr. White for dissection. August 28,—A drive from Zoltoi for food yielded 203 seals.? Only 3 skins were accepted; of these 2 were females accidently killed. August 29.—Cows and pups are distributed quite numerously over Lukanin rookery. Many fine 5-year-old males are to be seen in different parts of the rookery. September 5.—The rookeries at Tolstoi, English Bay, and Southwest Bay seemed to be in good condition for this season of the year. September 12.—The old bulls are all gone from Lukanin and Kitovi. A few half bulls still remain. Cows, pups, and bachelors are numerous, but not so many are on shore as at my previous visit. Two female seals were found insensible under the bluff at East Landing, where they had evidently fallen from the top. September 23.—A favorite hauling ground for the pups is the shore line south of the village, though unoccupied by any of the other classes of seals during the season. The north side shore is also frequented by pups as far as the new warehouse. 1 These observations seem to have approached very closely the discovery of the parasite Uncinaria. 2 Due to the presence of 2-year-olds and yearlings, the younger seals coming in later and being lighter in color as a rule. 3A discussion 1s noted between the Aleuts and the agent as to the age of the seals to be killed. for food, the people preferring the smaller seals. The custom had been to kill the larger ones. The agent at this time, however, apparently granted the request to kill the smaller seals. Complaint was urged against the disturbance of the rookeries in getting the specimens for Dr. White. The skins of the smaller seals were naturally rejected and so wasted, while nothing is said of the disturbance created by driving Reef Rookery three times for food. RECORD OF J. W. BEAMAN, 273 September 25.—The seals are largely diminished in numbers on the plateau of the Reef. Evidently they live more in the water and haul out less frequently and for shorter periods at this season. September 30.—Pups are still abundant on the south shore of the bluff under the village, and in the water edge along the edge. On Speel are three old balls which seem to have come back to their old camping ground. October 8.—The sea-lion drive from Northeast Point arrived at 6 p. m., having left Northeast Point at noon Sunday, the quickest drive on record. The 195 sea lions killed were all females. ! October 20.—In a drive for food from Lukanin 10 females were killed by accident. The seals still hold the plateau of the Reef in about the same number as upon the 25th ultimo. October 21.—On Speel the cows and pups are holding both sides of the point. One old bull is hauled up among the cows. The pups are still nursing. October 25,—No seals are hauled south of the village. It is evident that many cows and pups have gone since the cold weather set in. ’ October 26.—Permission was granted to kill 5,000 male pups. Complaint was made that it would be difficult to get 5,000 pups of sufficient size if the females were excluded. Permission to include females was positively refused. October 29.—Upon knocking down a pod of pups driven from Lukanin such a large proportion were found to be females that orders were given to kill each one separately after examination ; 540 were killed. October 30.—In the morning the balance of the drive was killed—335. Direction was given to the chief to see that the female pups were driven back into the water. Undoubtedly a large number of these will be unable to recover from the effects of the drive and will perish.” October 31.—From a drive of pups at Kitovi 999 were killed. Care had evidently been used in selecting this lot, as only one or two females were noticed. November 1.—The pups which were killed by accident or ushansted on the drive from Kitovi were brought up in a wagon and distributed—90 in all; 7 were reported crushed by the larger seals while sorting the sexes. These were too ‘avail for food or use. Ten were brought in by the men engaged in the work of selection. A total of 1,106 from Kitovi were killed, making.1,985 pups to date. A number of pup car- casses weighed 8 to 10 pounds each alter the viscera, pelt, and blubber had been removed.3 . November 3.—At a drive of pups from Lukanin 1,142 were killed; 42 which had been killed in selecting or on the drive were brought in by the men. 1In this indiscriminate slaughter of the sea lions we probably have the cause of their great dimi- nution. 2The probable careless methods of handling these pups in preceding seasons here suggested is worthy of note. The agent during this season seems to have given the matter close personal attention, and it is strange, in view of what he found, that the wasteful practice should have been allowed to continue. Itis not likely that this agent’s course of action endeared him to the natives, but it was tertainly directed toward the best interests of the Government. * As the skins of these pups, if allowed to grow up, would have been worth to the Government in tax alone $3, it becomes evident that the supplying of pup meat to the Aleuts was an expensive luxury. 274 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. November 6.—The pups killed by accident on the drive of yesterday—79 in all— were brought in and distributed. November 10.—A drive of pups was made from Gorbatch; 356 were killed, making a total of 5,070. On this drive 4 females were overcome by the exertion or smothered by the piling of the drove. The drives from Gorbatch were composed of mothers and pups, which were drive. on the level north of Zoltoi sands, and the pups caught and examined. Mothers and female pups were then released and driven into the water. November 13.—In a drive for food made from the Reef several females were killed by accident; probably eight or ten. November 19.—Only 7 cows and 2 pups were on Speel rookery this morning and these took to the water on seeing a human being. November 25.—The Reef was visited to-day. The first plateau was found deserted and the second with about 100 seals upon it. The bluffs had quite a number on their sides. November 30.—No pups and very few other seals are reported from Southwest Bay. December 27.—It is reported that 600 seals are at Northeast Point; none at Polovina; a large number on Sea Lion Rock. 1880. Januaty 10.—-A visit to Reet to-day showed about 2,000 seals hauled out at the extreme point. Sea Lion Rock was thickly covered with seals and in the water south of the point there were numerous pods. April 30.—Bull seals are reported on the Reef, Tolstoi, and Lukanin, the first of the season. May 1.—A visit was made to Gorbatch and 2 bulls were found hauled up and holding their positions. May 3.—The 2 bulls previously noted on Gorbatch were gone. Two others were on the Reef. These did not seem to be holding definite positions and they took to the water. May 14,—A drive of 406 for food was made at Southwest Bay and 204 seals were killed. The killing is earlier than last year. All along the shore the bulls were holding their positions; quite a pod of bachelors were hauled up at Tolstoi. May 21.—Eighty-six bulls holding positions were counted on Gorbatch. The number on the other side could not be counted. There were probably 300 in all, including both sides. May 24.—An inspection was made on Kitovi and Lukanin rookeries; 112 bulls counted on Kitovi, and 142 on Lukanin, with a possible error in the count of 25 to 50.! May 28.—A single bull seal which hauled out at Speel yesterday, the first of the season, is gone to-day. May 29.—No seals of consequence hauled at Northeast Point yet. ‘In the foregoing record by Mr. Beaman we have an approach to what should have been the wide-awake agent's record. He gave in 1879 a count of the bulls on Polovina and Nah Spil. Here he has made a count of the bulls on Kitovi and Lukanin, which enables us to arrive at some idea of the true status of these breeding grounds. Had such a beginning been followed up and expanded it would have soon thrown the needed light upon the condition of the herd, but Mr. Beaman does not again appear in the record, and it again sinks into generalties. RECORD FOR 1880. 275 RECORD KEPT BY H. G. OTIS. June 1.—The regular sealing season began to-day, with a drive from the Reef, 216 seals being killed. June 10.—Reports show the rookeries at Northeast Point in favorable condition. The first seal pup of the season was seen on the Reef. Bulls numerous on the rookeries; killable seals scarce. June 16.—Some difficulty is being encountered in obtaining killable seals in . satisfactory numbers; 25 or 30 per cent of each drive has to be released, being either too large or too small. June 23.—A visible improvement in the quality and number of killable seals is noticeable, a larger proportion of medium-sized 3-year-olds having appeared on the hauling grounds. The date of their appearance corresponds with last year. June 24.—Large increase of cows is noticeable on the Reef.' ‘July 2.—A visit to Kitovi, Tolstoi, and Lukanin showed a marked increase in the number of cows and pups, especially at Tolstoi, where they lay like sardines packed in a box. July 3.—The agent visited Otter Island, as directed, to keep lookout for vessels. A number of seals hauled out on the shore; no females or pups. July 15.—Frequent visits to the Reef. and other rookeries find them filled to the utmost limit of their apparent expansion of former years, tle rookeries being packed closely with cows, bulls, and pups. Several freshly born pups seen. The rutting season appears to be at its height. July 17.—A drive from Zoltoi yielded 534 skins, making up the island’s full quota of 80,000 for the season; of this number 75,000 have been taken since the Ist day of June, an average of 2,167 skins per day for the thirty-five days actually consumed in the work.? August 11.—On recent visits to Reef, Zoltoi, Lukanin, and Tolstoi countless multitudes of seals of all classes have been found hauling out and spreading over ground not occupied earlier in the season. The shores along the front of all the rookeries are black with seal pups which are just learning to swim. The cows now go freely in and out of the water, released as they are from their more urgent family duties. Their masters pay little attention to their movements compared with the jealous watchfuluess shown them during the breeding and rutting periods. August 15,—A bout 1,000 seals reported hauled out on Otter Island. August 21.—The appearance of Tolstoi and Reef rookeries at this time show them to be occupied by a larger number of seals, apparently, than at any previous period of the season. On the Reef the entire space from shore to shore is thickly covered with seals of all classes and ages. At Tolstoi all the ground held during the height of the season, together with the slope to the top of the bluff, is similarly though more densely covered. The pups, waxing strong, have hauled ‘out far backward from the shore. 1I¢ can not be determined from this and the following entries what is meant by the increase, whether it is over some date in the same season or over the preceding season. It is evident, however, that we can not infer a diminution as yet in the seal herd. 27 must be noted here that this result of the season’s sealing is wholly incompatible with Captain Byant’s claim of a scarcity of bulls in 1875-76. 276 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. September 8.—Seals are present in large numbers everywhere, the pups hauling out for play near the village, indifferent to the presence of human beings. The waters of the cove are alive with them and they literally swarm the shore about the Point Warehouse. September 12.,—Seals in undiminished numbers remain at Northeast Point and far down the north shore. October 20.—Seals are hauled out at Tolstoi and the Reef in nearly as great numbers as in August; less numerous at Zoltoi, Kitovi, and Lukanin. The larger proportion by far are cows and pups. The latter class is also to be seen in large numbers in the water. October 31.—The natives urged permission to begin killing pups, claiming 5,000 would be needed. With a view to protect the seal life, the number of pups to be killed was fixed at 4,400, the natives being required to take more bachelors, their skins to go into the quota. It was shown that the natives were supplied during the year ending July 30, 1880, with no less than 11,801 small seals, making an average net weight of 8 pounds for the pup seals and 32 pounds for the larger seals, a total weight (estimated) of 255,928 pounds, or an average of 700 pounds a day for every day of the year, or more than 23 pounds a day for every native man, woman, and child on the island.! November 6.—A drive of pups was made from the Reef to make up the total of 4,400 for the season. November 22.—The majority of the seals have disappeared; comparatively few are at the Reef, Kitovi, Lukanin, Tolstoi, and Southwest and English bays. December 31.—Seals have been scarce on land since the late heavy storm; but to-day several hundred appeared upon the Reef, while Sea Lion Rock and the water. about-it are black with them. A number are reported at Tolstoi and Southwest Bay, but more at Kitovi and Lukanin. : 1881. January 3.—Small drive was made from Tolstoi, the last of the season, and 123 killed. J] — oS Total Ware ms ave ei .s:01sis cS iardin salaiaie'd ode poeien sew eGirod weer ae seem oDeeemee see aesiacies 176 Asverapesize Of Ware jiscciiss-