584 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRTBILOF ISLANDS. 



Beginning at the northern point of Keef rookery 32 dead pups were counted to 

 the first rocky point. In this space were 5 dead cows grouped together in a space of 

 a few rods. One cow was fresh. She lay on her back. There were marks of a bull's 

 teeth in several places. Her skull was broken. Mr. Lucas suggests that the bull 

 may have thrown her over his head in such a way as to break her skull on the rocks. 

 This seems the probable manner of death, though the animal might have been clubbed 

 at sea and washed up dead by the heavy surf of the past day or two. 



To the second rocky point 28 dead pups were counted. One dead cow was seen. 

 She was much decomposed, but the cause of death was apparent. The skin over the 

 shoulders covering about one fourth of the body was stripped off. A living cow with 

 a similar but less extensive flaying was seen moving about and apparently doing well. 

 A pup with a large piece of skin torn from its back was also seen. 



In the first triangular mass from this rocky point to the first pond were found 166 

 dead pups. This is a very large mass. Ten dead cows are in this area. 



The long mass lying between the two ponds has 154 dead pups and 3 dead cows. 

 On this flat ground the pups show traces of Uncinaria. A few have evidently been 

 trampled. The pups, as a whole, are in good condition and sickly ones are few. 



Beyond the second pond is the largest mass of all, but the death rate here is only 

 77. There are, however, 8 cows grouped together. One of the cows is badly torn 

 about the shoulders and back. Her side is torn open and the pup still partially 

 covered with its membrane is protruding from the wound. 



On this space was a young bull in charge of a 3-year-old cow with a newly born 

 pup. The bull could not have been more than 6 years old. He would not leave his 

 post, neither would the cow. Under ordinary circumstances he would have fled 

 instantly, but the responsibilities of the situation seemed to give him the courage of 

 a veteran. 



While the cows and pups were passing down over the beach, a cow reeled over 

 and fell in a fit. Her limbs twitched and the whole body quivered. The eyes rolled, 

 showing the whites, and the animal frothed at the mouth. She showed utter indiffer- 

 ence when handled and rolled over. After a time she became quiet, and then 

 recovering herself, gave a bark of fright and hurried away. This is a case exactly 

 similar to many seen last fall at the time of the count of starved pups. 



The long stretch of beach to the first hauling ground beyond the pond had 08 

 dead pups and 5 dead cows. This rookery space at no point reached above the 

 bowlder beach in the breeding season. Last year the harems extended a considerable 

 distance back. The first hauling ground noted as terminating this patch was not 

 noticeable last year and must have been much less extensive than it is now. 



In the small patch between this runway and the next were 2G pups. No dead 

 cows were seen. To the third runway there were 29 pups and 1 cow. To the end of 

 the rookery there were 62 pups and 10 cows. The cows were in close proximity to 

 one another. 



The Reef had in all 25 cows last year. This year there are 42. The presence of 

 this large number of dead cows, for the most part in groups, points to increased 

 fighting among the bulls as the cause. The massed portions of this rookery, while 

 less in extent, were more thickly beset with idle bulls, and the cows have suffered as a 

 consequence. 



