NOTES ON WALRUS ISLAND. 



553 



JULY 12. 



A drive was made this morning from Lukanin and the Beef. No seals were found 

 011 Zoltoi. Eight huiidred and four seals were killed; 140 large and 638 small seals 

 were turned back. Those killed represented 50 per cent of the animals driven. 

 Lukauin is again justifying its reputation as the " nursery," as the greater part of the 

 little ones came from it. 



COUNT OF LAGOON. 



After the killing Mr. Macoun and myself made a count of the cows, by harems, on 

 Lagoon rookery. Mr. Lucas managed the boat. The following is the count of harems 

 in detail: 



Total cows 1,319 



Total harems 115 



Average harem 11.4 



The count for Lagoon rookery for last year was made on July 13, but as Kitovi 

 rookery had to be counted and photographed by Mr. Macoun on that date this year, 

 at his suggestion the count of the lagoon was made one day in advance. The weather 

 conditions were very favorable and the count is accurate. The harems on the inner 

 side of the reef are fewer and smaller than last year, there being only 8 harems of 

 from 1 to 4 cows not visible from the water front. 



WALRUS ISLAND. 



In the afternoon I was able to visit Walrus Island through the kindness of 

 Captain Roberts, of the Rush, who took over Mr. Duffield and his assistants to make a 

 survey. The vessel overran the island about 2 miles in the fog, having been carried 

 out of her course by the currents. 



Walrus Island is devoid of vegetation except for a small area of seal grass near 

 the northern end. Mingled with the seal grass is the species of wormwood common 

 about the abandoned rookeries. The island is everywhere low. The coast line is for 

 the most part precipitous. There are a number of little coves suitable for landing, the 

 best one on the eastern side. Probably no lauding could be effected on the island in 

 any except the smoothest weather. 



The island is covered with birds, which on our landing filled the air and made 

 rain coats and sou'westers indispensable articles of wearing apparel. The birds were 

 the ones common to the other islands, the only remarkable feature about them being 

 their great numbers in a small space. The arris occupy the flat tops of the basaltic 

 columns and the ledges of the cliffs. Each one stands above a single large egg resting 

 with its larger end on the bare rock and the smaller tucked under the feathers of the 



