THE COUNT OF LIVE PUPS. 411 



In the enumeration of Gorbatch rookery 712 dead pups were found. Of these 

 all which were not too rotten to handle were dissected. Eight were so examined. 

 Probably not more than 15 dead pups in fresh condition were to be found, about 2.9 

 per cent of the dead pups on the rookery. I doubt if the percentage of deaths within 

 ten days on any of the rookeries would exceed this. 



A growing percentage of pups are now showing signs of starving and in their case 

 the cause is probably pelagic sealing. Within a few days many will die from this 

 cause, provided they are not trodden upon by some bull and killed before starvation 

 has run its course. 



MB. LUCAS'S NOTES. 



The black, tarry feces in emaciated pups is probably due to bile, as it is present 

 in all very much emaciated animals. In starving, suffocated pups, the lungs are 

 deeply and darkly congested; the liver is small, thin, and dark; more or less thick 

 tarry matter in the intestines, in one case much of it formed in the stomach. 



AUGUST 14. 



Dr. Jordan, Professor Thompson, Mr. Macoun, Mr. Lucas, and Mr. Clark went to 

 Zapadui to complete the count of dead pups. 



Mr. Clark was left off at Zapadui Reef for the purpose of making, if possible, a 

 count of the live pups there, and also a count of the dead ones. A very accurate 

 count of cows was made on this rookery in the breeding season. 



LIVE PUPS ON ZAPADNI REEF. 



The count of live pups was made by breaking up the narrow line in pods of 100 

 or less and making them run back along the beach until a count could be made. This 

 rookery is a very narrow one, and as a high surf was running the pups could not take 

 to the water. By shifting the whole rookery about 200 feet in the direction of Little 

 Zapadni it was possible to make each pod pass over a space sufficient to insure a 

 reasonably accurate count. 



There was found a total of 3,758 live pups, to which must be added 104 dead ones, 

 making a total of 3,802 pups born on this rookery. The total number of cows counted 

 here was 2,256. The count, while not absolutely accurate, is very nearly so. 



Zapadni Reef, like the Lagoon, is an unprotected reef facing on the bay, and 

 receives the full force of the surf. The pups here were quite expert, and went boldly 

 out into the breakers when hard pressed. The surf was running high and toward 

 the end of the count a number of pods took the water, swimming out and down 

 toward the foot of the bay. Oftentimes the little fellows were caught on the crest of 

 a breaker and landed high and dry on the rocks. They lighted like cats, always right 

 side up, and immediately put out to sea again. Sometimes they would attempt, as 

 the older seals do, to dive under the crest of a wave, but were not so well able to time 

 their movements and were more often carried back, ^one were seen to be hurt. 



DEAD PUPS. 



After the count of living pups the rookery was again gone over and counted for 

 dead pups. One hundred and four were found on Zapadni Reef, the whole space 

 15184, PT 2 11 



