INTRODUCTORY NOTE. 255 



United States it should have been in charge of a competent guardian whose exclusive 

 business it should have been to understand its condition and needs. It would then 

 have received the attention which was so conspicuously lacking during its critical 

 years. 



Supplemental to this meager record of the log and in contrast with it is the 

 journal of the commission itself for the seasons of 1896 and 1897. This gives a minute 

 daily record of the observations and labors of the different investigators. It begins 

 in 1896 with the 8th of July, or as the breeding season was just approaching its 

 height, and ends with the 22d of October, a few weeks before the final departure of 

 the seals from the islands. In 1897 the record begins with the first arrival of the 

 breeding females and extends until September, thus covering in the two years 

 practically the entire period of stay of the seals on the islands and giving a duplicate 

 record for the period known as the height of the breeding season. 



This record is published in full because it is the most important result of the 

 work of investigation. It should furnish a valuable basis of comparison in subsequent 



investigations of the fur-seal herd. 



DAVID S. JORDAN. 

 GEORGE A. CLARK. 



