RECORD OF FRANCIS LESSEN. 259 



May 23. The first food drive of the season was made to-day, killing 193. The 

 killing was made at Zapadni, the meat being brought home in the bidara. 



June 3. The first regular drive for skins was made from Zoltoi and Ileef, 813 

 taken ; 7 seals suffered from overheating in driving. 



June 7. It is reported from Northeast Point that many beach masters are hauled 

 out, but few killable seals. 



June 8. The shores where seals breed are fast becoming free from snow, and no 

 obstruction occurs to landing. Seals are beginning to haul rapidly at Zoltoi and other 

 points. The first female landed at Gorbatch to-day, and the same report is given of 

 Southwest Bay. 



June 11. A drive from Southwest Bay yielded 2,597 skins; 152 skins were spoiled 

 on account of overheating of the seals. 



June 17. Snow fell in the night and drove the seals from the shores in large 

 numbers. 



June 25. A visit to Keef rookery shows the conditions very favorable as compared 

 with last year; females are lauded in equal numbers, and many already have pups. 



July 23. Four hundred and forty-six seals were killed to day, enough to fill out 

 the season's quota. 



RECORD KEPT BY FRANCIS LESSEN. 



August 12. On Reef rookery it was found that some of this year's pups had 

 already learned to swim. 



August 14. Off Tolstoi and English Bay a mass of pups were learning to swim, 

 and the water was full of seals. 



August 20. At Northeast Point the females and their pups were very thick on 

 shore, as well as in the water. Comparatively few bull seals were seen, but many 

 half bulls. The two latter classes are supposed to go out feeding about this time. 



September 9. Ten or fifteen seals are reported dead at Northeast Point, cut about 

 the chest and back; supposed to have been killed by "killers." 



September 18. On Otter Island about 2,000 seals were found, but no actual 

 rookery, because no pups were seen. It is evidently only a hauling ground for bachelors 

 and old bulls. 



October 21. An inspection of all the near rookeries showed the old seals 

 commencing to leave. 



November 2. Seals are reported to be diminishing at Northeast Point. 



November 3. Young pups were driven and killed for food: the sexes were 

 separated just back of Kitovi rookery, the females allowed to remain and the males 

 driven up to the village; 879 were killed. 



November 24. The chief reports a gradual diminution of the seals on the 

 rookeries of Northeast and Halfway points. 



December 7. On the Keef were noticed in four different places about 2,000 seals. 



December 15. The seals have left Kitovi, Lukanin, and Polovina rookeries; but 

 they still remain on both sides of the Reef. 



December 28. On the Keef are still about 1,000 seals. 



