LIVE AND DEAD PUPS. 575 



LIVE PUPS ON ZAPADNI REEF. 



Mr. Macoun came over during the afternoon and a joint count was made with him 

 of live pups on Zapadni Reef. The total number of live pups found was 2,971. When 

 this place was counted on the 14th of the mouth only 1,049 cows were found on it. At 

 the same time last year 2,25(i cows were counted. The total number of pups found on 

 this rookery last year was 3,862. This would indicate a falling oft' of something like 

 20 per cent. 



The count is as accurate as can be made at any time during the season. It will 

 vary by less than 50 from the actual facts. A number of dead pups were counted, but 

 the count of both classes could not be accurately made at the same time. 



Two dead bulls and 1 dead cow were seen on the rookery. The cow and 1 bull 

 were not long dead, but were still in a condition unfit for handling. The warm 

 weather causes decomposition to set in very quickly. 



A number of dead pups were dissected by Mr. Lucas, who will give the results 

 under his discussion of " Causes of mortality." 



On the flat at the junction of Little Zapadni with Zapadni Eeef was a pod of 

 young bachelors, but practically no killable seals among them. This hauling ground, 

 like Lukanin, is noted for its proportion of small bachelors. 



DK. JORDAN'S NOTES. 



On Zapadui rookery the seals at all points fall hundreds of feet short of Townsend's 

 crosses of 1895. The idle bulls are more numerous and fiercer than ever before. There 

 is constant fighting in Zapadui gully, which is also a bad place from Uncinaria. Many 

 sick and weak pups are to be seen. These are dying of the worm, but may be killed 

 by trampling in the meantime. They have not the energy and strength to keep out of 

 the way of the bulls. Old bulls which have evidently had harems in years past are 

 now without cows and are intensely fierce. 



One case of copulation was seen. A few 2-year-olds are to be seen in harems in 

 the rear, but the number does not seem so large as last year. 



DEAD PUPS. 



A large male pup was found dead alone on the rocks near the hauling ground. 

 The body was fresh. Death was not due to trampling. The intestines were full of 

 knots of Uncinaria. The liver was dark and mottled; the lungs normal, crepitating 

 the skin of the belly flabby. On the head were gray hairs. There was little blood; 

 the stomach was empty and its walls contained worms. 



Near by was a female pup plainly dead fiom starvation. The liver was black, the 

 flesh livid, the body wasted, the intestines full of bile, their walls shrunk. There was 

 plenty of bad blood. No worms were present. 



A male pup was found drowned on the beach of Zapadni. It was fat and in 

 a healthy condition. No worms were present. There was but little bile in the 

 intestines. The small intestine measured 38 feet in length. 



Uncinaria is the cause of death in many pups. The weak and sickly pups visible 

 on the rookeries are due to the worms. They are not seen in starved pups nor in 

 strong, healthy pups, only in weak, sluggish pups, with flabby bellies, dull eyes, and 

 thin backs. These weak pups die of trampling when a strong pup would resist the 



