474 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PKIBILOF ISLANDS. 



evidently not left the island. There are about 600 of them on Zoltoi bluffs, sands, 

 and in the cove at the east side and at the hauling ground beyond it toward East 

 Landing. 



I cross Telegraph Hill to Middle Hill. Many bulls and a few bachelors are on 

 the hauling ground. The beach of English Bay is thickly lined as far as can be seen 

 in the fog with old bulls. They, like the bachelors, are becoming more numerous 

 within the past few days. Has the storm driven them in or are they returning from 

 feeding? They are line-looking fellows, apparently entirely recovered from their 



emaciation. 



TOLSTOI. 



The sand flat of Tolstoi is wholly deserted except for a few cows and 2 small pods 

 of pups under the green cliff. All are far up in the rocks on the hillside. The reason 

 for their abandoning the sandy area is evident. The rain of the past few days has 

 cut it up into gullies where the little streams have run down. The dead pups are 

 being used up fast. The prospects for getting them all in a count are not good. The 

 whole thing has changed since Dr. Jordan and I were here on September 7. Sand is 

 washed over and covers many of the pups longest dead. Here and there over the 

 tract as you walk a pup supposed to be freshly dead will start up and run away with 

 a piteous cry. These are the phantom-like starving pups. 



It is a question whether it will not be just as well to begin counting the pups a 

 week earlier. We are sure to lose many by the high surf, and these beating storms 

 will play the mischief with those long dead. The early dead ones show more 

 disintegration as a result of the past few days of storm than during the whole ot 

 August. 



SEPTEMBER 14. 



I went this morning with a mule team and several natives to Lukaniu to get 

 some pups for experiment in castration. Mr. Barrett-Hamilton and Colonel Murray 

 went along. A drive of 24 pups was made to the edge of the hauling ground. Picking 

 the twelve biggest they all proved males. Did not examine the sex of the small ones. 



The pups were brought home in the wagon. A dead cow was found lying a little 

 above high-water mark. She was fresh and bleeding at the mouth. No external 

 evidence of injury beyond the bleeding. She was brought home also. Mr. Barrett- 

 Hamilton wants her skin. 



THE CASTRATION OF A PUP. 



Dr. Voss proceeded to castrate one of the pups. For some reason the testes 

 were very difficult to find, necessitating a deep incision and very careful dissection to 

 secure them. After the organs had been drawn out preparatory to cutting them off, 

 the pup drew them back into the body cavity. It took nearly half an hour to perform 

 the operation and stitch up the two incisions to prevent the intrusion of sand. 

 Doubtless more care was taken than absolutely necessary. 



The work was done by Dr. Voss, the island physician. The difficulty attendant 

 upon it and the length of time required seemed to indicate the impracticability of 

 castration on a large scale, and it was decided not to experiment on the other 11 pups. 

 The castrated pup was then branded across the crown of the head fiid put back with 

 his companions and returned to Lukanin. He did not seem to mind the treatment he 



