294 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



for the most part, occupied their attention. The real fighting seen was among the 

 unoccupied bulls, of which there were many holding positions back of the harems. A 

 bull from a harem lower down the slope was seen to seize a cow and drag her down 

 into his circle. 



An effort was made to count the pups in the 23 harems already referred to, but it 

 was difficult in many cases to tell to what harem scattering pups belonged. In many 

 cases they were grouped in pods, playing among themselves like puppy dogs. In 

 harems where an absolute count was possible, slightly more than one half as many 

 pups as cows were found. Including the pods, in certain cases they seemed to 

 outnumber the cows. One outlying pod numbered 37. 



The birth of one pup was witnessed from a distance. The little fellow was soon 

 able to move about and in a few minutes was nursing. The mother passed her nose 

 over the pup several times, uttering a noise like that of a sheep, shaking her head, 

 but did not lick or otherwise help it. The old bull sat near by looking on without 

 showing any interest. A number of fresh placentas were to be seen lying about in 

 various places, giving evidence of recent births. No pups were seen to nurse except 

 the newly born one. No dead pups were seen. 



A considerable number of seals were constantly swimming to and fro in the water 

 in front of the rookery. For the most part the animals seemed to be cows. 



Messrs. Townseud and Miller photographed the rookery for the American 

 commission. Mr. Macoun also photographed the rookery. 



Dr. Jordan, Professor Thompson, and Colonel Murray remained overnight at the 

 Government house, the others returning to the ship. 



JULY 9. 



Colonel Murray, Professor Thompson, and Treasury Agent Judge went early in 

 the morning to Zapadui to witness the drive and killing there. Dr. Stejneger and 

 Mr. Lucas spent the day in making a count of North rookery. Mr. Macoun remained 

 with them and completed his photographs of that rookery. Dr. Jordan and Mr. Clark 

 counted the cows and harems on East, Little East, and Staraya Artel rookeries, and 

 Messrs. Townsend and Miller photographed them. Mr. Marrett photographed them 

 for Professor Thompson. Captain Moser and Mr. Parmeuter, from the Albatross, 

 made hydrographic observations on North rookery. 



NORTH. 



The water being rough at the village, it was necessary to land at the end of North 

 rookery in the runway up which the bachelors haul. At the approach of the boat a 

 few of the bachelors hastened into the water, but the main flock remained undisturbed 

 on the hillside above. The harems, which extended up to the edge of the runway, 

 were prevented from stampeding by the bulls in charge, and several idle bulls along 

 the water's edge, at the point of landing, showed fight and would not be driven off. 



The count of North rookery was made by Dr. Stejneger and Mr. Lucas. A total 

 of 1,413 cows in 78 harems were actually counted, and for 51 other harems bulls were 

 counted and the cows estimated on the basis of the harems counted. The count and 

 estimate give a total of 2,280 cows for the greater part of the rookery; but as the 

 nature of the ground made it impossible to see all the cows, a correction seemed neces- 

 sary, and, in the opinion of Mr. Lucas 3,000, and in that of Dr. Stejneger, 2,700 would 



