404 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



Another pup dying of starvation is wholly insensible. These are pups which 

 have in one way or another lost connection with their mothers. 1 The pups still active, 

 but showing signs of starvation about the eyes, the large head, uncertain gait, and a 

 lack of plumpness, will be found to be the product of pelagic sealing. Similar changes 

 are shown by the pup starving at the house, which is still alive. 



One bull has a singular voice, like a fog horn. The pups and harems are now 

 grouped to the top of Hutchinsou Hill. In the breeding season but one bull with a 

 harem was located on this hill, and his 2 cows ran away. 



A cow is seen dragging herself along, unable to move her hind flippers. Several 

 bulls have been killed on account of this, but their examination has not resulted in 

 indicating the trouble. Another pup is seen with pus running out of his lost eye. 



At the foot of Hutchinson Hill 2 bulls were fighting. One got badly routed and 

 was very angry. When he saw me sitting on a stone near by he came after me with 

 the same force and vigor that had been displayed against him by the other bull. I of 

 course resigned the stone to him without parley and he continued to hold it for a long 

 time in a self-satisfied way, as if the fact that he had routed me was some solace to his 

 wounded pride. (Dr. Jordan.) 



HEIGHT OF THE BREEDING SEASON. 



The height of the breeding season lasts until about the 20th of July, after which 

 time the authority of the bull is not very potent with the cows, many of whom are 

 then going into the water. At this time it is possible to stampede a harem of cows 

 by approaching too near. Frequently they will leave in a body and take to the sea. 

 But this is not so serious as a similar stampede would be in the height of the season, 

 for at the latter time the bull has become listless and makes little if any objection, 

 except perhaps in the case of individual cows, which may be those not yet impregnated. 

 The pups also are strong and active and are podding by themselves. At the same 

 time the bull himself will retain his position, and no power can stampede him except 

 the attack of a larger bull. The so-called stampedes are usually due to the attempts 

 of half bulls and idle bulls to enter the harems in the breeding season, either to steal 

 cows or to take up places there. 



A cow that had a bad gash above her flipper on July 25 is almost well now. 



ESTIMATE OF HAREMS. 



Part of the harems and cows on Northeast Point rookeries was counted by Mr. 

 Lucas and Dr. Stejneger on the 16th of July. But no count could be made of the 

 immense numbers under Hutchinson Hill and to the southwest of it. A count of the 

 harems was made to day by Dr. Jordan. In this count of bulls an effort was made 

 to include only those in service, not half bulls. Many were idle in the breeding 

 season, and many then in service are now gone. This spoils the accuracy of the count, 

 but it is probably not far from correct. 



Dividing the whole rookery into two parts, the east and west, the former has 24.'J 

 hareins; the hitter, 975. The harems on this rookery seemed unusually large, and it 



1 A mother killed at sea on August 1 might have been away several days, and a young pup, under 

 these circumstances, might haveheen without food for a woek hefore August 1, thus giving from fifteen 

 to eighteen days, a sufficient time in which to starve. 



