272 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIBTLOF 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 10. A pup taken from Speel, upon dissection, showed the foramen ovale 



and the ductus arterioaus to be open. These ducts 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 

 or ale and the ductus arteriosus were closed. They were found open only in the two 

 mouths' 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. 1 



August 22. The plateau of the Reef was quite uniformly covered with cows, pups, 

 and bachelors. The females are more silvery gray 2 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 

 Lukaniu ike 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 

 duct 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. 3 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. 



3 A discussion is 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. 



