THE DKIVE FROM REEF AND LUKANIN. 569 



narrow fringe of harems occupy the slope back of the bowlder beach. In the 

 hollow depression near the eastern end of the rookery the cows fall 1UO feet short of 

 the limit of last year at this date. 



One peculiar thing about this rookery is the presence of a large number of 

 harems, some of them large, out on the reef which projects from the point. No 

 harems were here last year, and probably for the reason that the high surf prevented 

 their forming there. When even a moderate surf is running the water sweeps over 

 the reef. There has been no surf whatever to speak of on the east side of the island 

 this season. This doubtless accounts for the harems here, as well as at Lukanin, 

 where a number are awash at high tide. The "oldest inhabitants" have not known 

 such a season on the islands. Here, as on Lukauiu, numerous pups were playing in 

 the tide pools of the reef. 



The cliff portion of Polovina is very much scattered and broken. In two places 

 the harems extend out on the flat. They are represented chiefly by pups now, the 

 cows having gone. 



At the eastern end of Poloviua by the sand beach there were several harems from 

 which all the cows were gone, only the pups remaining. The bulls were in the water, 

 but upon our approach they went back to defend the places where their harems were 

 located. 



A case of copulation was taking place in the water shallow water. A dead bull 

 lay among the rocks at the foot of the slope and several dead pups. The number of 

 dead pups is very much smaller than that seen at this time last year. 



Little Polovina has 39 harems. Most of the idle bulls which so thickly surrounded 

 this little rookery are gone and it is possible to closely inspect it. Here, as well as at 

 L'olovina proper, the harem system has entirely broken up. The cows shift from 

 harem to harem and are going oft' to sea in large numbers. They take fright at our 

 presence and the bulls have no control over them. The scattered condition noted in 

 the rookeries after the 15th has grown more and more pronounced ever since. 



Mr. Adams's count of cows for the Amphitheater is 469; for the 19 typical 

 harems, 212. 



JULY 24. 



A drive was made this morning from Lukaniu and Reef. The seals killed numbered 

 526 ; 352 large and 1,380 small were turned back. 



The seals from Lukanin, which were as usual small ones, were handled at the 

 salt house by the Lagoon. Their bodies were salted to be taken to St. George to serve 

 as fox food. The killings on that island have furnished but little more than the 

 necessary meat for food for the natives, and it is proposed to take over 1,000 carcasses 

 from St. Paul. 



This drive from Reef and Lukauin is just one day earlier than one last season 

 which yielded 1,630 skins and turned back 1,008 too large and 1,177 too small. In 

 the drive of last year a small pod of seals was included from Kitovi. It may be noted 

 that no bachelors have been driven from this hauling ground this season, and not 

 over a dozen, mostly half bulls, have hauled out there. 



