560 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



the foot of the rookery gives 57 as a total, about the number found at the earlier 

 date of July 9, in 1896. There are undoubtedly a few harems hidden from view, but 

 it is not possible to view the rookery from the top without disturbing the pod of 

 bachelors, some 300, which are lying at the foot of the hill. 



This rookery certainly seems much thinner and more scattered than it was last 

 year. The appearance is in part due to the difference in date. 



The skeletons of 2 dead pups were found washed up on the beach at some distance 

 below the rookery. A dead bull was washed in at the same place. 



THE KILLING. 



A drive was made from East rookery this morning, or rather it started last night 

 at about 10 o'clock. The seals arrived at the village about 8 o'clock this morning. 

 The weather proved very unsuitable for killing, there being no fog and not a breath 

 of wind stirring. Captain Webster would not allow the killing to proceed, and as the 

 weather did not improve during the day the seals were simply herded all day. About 

 8 o'clock in the evening, when it became cooler, he ordered the killing. Two hundred 

 and nine seals were killed out of a total drive of about 700. One hundred skins were 

 weighed and averaged 7.05 pounds each, practically the same grade as taken on St. 

 Paul. The proportion of large seals turned away is much less than on St. Paul. The 

 force of men on St. George is much smaller and the work less expeditiously done than 

 on St. Paul. It is, however, done as skillfully and with even greater care. 



A young bull almost fully grown died from exhaustion during the day while the 

 seals were being herded, and 2 smaller ones were smothered. These were the o ly 

 casualties. 



Only about 1,300 seals have been taken on St. George since last August, scarcely 

 enough to supply the natives with food. The hauling grounds are practically 

 exhausted, and if they yield the necessary food drives for the rest of the season it 

 will be all that can be expected from them. Mr. Judge is desirous of obtaining salted 

 carcasses from the killing gr'ouuds of St. Paul, to preserve for winter fox food. These 

 will probably be fur?iished. 



Concerning the weights of the skins taken on St. George, Mr. Judge supplied the 

 following data for the skins taken in a drive from North and Staraya Artel rookeries 

 on July 13 : 



Pounds each. 



59 skins 6 



86 skins 7 



70 skins 8 



21 skins.. . 9 



Pounds each. 



8 skins 10 



6 skins 11 



2 skins 12 



1 skin . . .20 



By comparing these with the weights taken on July 5 on the village killing 

 ground of St. Paul it will be seen that the grade of skins taken runs about the same 

 for both islands. 



MB. LUCAS'S NOTES. 



The part of Morjovi about Sea Lion Neck shows a decided falling off, which is 

 corroborated by the count. On the point south of the neck are GO harems and 566 

 cows as against 81 harems and 911 cows. On the neck itself the thinning out is less 

 conspicuous. On the south sidu there are 9 harems and 57 cows as against 8 with 87 

 cows last year. On the north side there are 15 harems with 143 cows as against 17 

 with 140 cows last year. 



