108 ALASKA FISHERIES AND FUE INDUSTRIES IN 1919. 



during the height of the season counts. Wliile this is the most im- 

 portant of all census work it is becoming less and less satisfactory 

 because of extraordinary difficulties encountered. The larger rook- 

 eries can not be seen from a point on the land side. Heretofore the 

 precarious utilization of a long ladder sup})orted by gliys has been 

 resorted to. These guys must be held by men and if a bull should 

 charge one of these men a most uncomfortable fall to the rocks below 

 would result. 



Temporary marks of driftwood and paint have been placed on the 

 difficult rookeries the past few years. Time and labor, however, have 

 not permitted this to be done in any but a cursory fashion. 



A large amount of work needs to be done in order to make the bull 

 counts of the future satisfactory. Concrete markers should be placed 

 at regular intervals of at least 100 feet (better every 50 feet) on the 

 following rookeries: Gorbatch, Reef, Kitovi, Lukanin, Polovina, 

 Morjovi, Vostochni, Zapadni, Little Zapadni, and Tolstoi. A marker 

 3 feet long, 1 foot square at the base, and 6 inches square at the top is 

 suggested. It could be buried a foot in most places. It would be 

 very desirable also to have a piece of 1-inch galvanized pipe 6 feet 

 long set into each to facilitate handling the block and to make it 

 much easier to see at the long distance from which counts must ordi- 

 narily be made. 



Overhead runways for the observer to walk out to the crest of the 

 beach line should be provided on most of the rookeries mentioned 

 above. They need not be elaborate. All that is needed is a trestle- 

 work 6 feet high and a walkway 1 or 2 feet wide. No hesitation need 

 be felt because of the effect these structures would have on the seals. 

 In 1919 two boats remained on Reef Rookery throughout the season 

 and the seals paid not the slightest attention to them. 



This construction work which has been recommended must be done 

 at the earliest possible moment if satisfactory census figures are 

 desired. It can not be done now, however, in time for use in 1920. 

 The bulls arrive in May, which is earlier than men can ordinarily get 

 to the islands. Snow then usually covers the ground and would 

 prevent work of the character outlined. Such work, which would 

 involve a considerable amount of labor, must be done after August 

 10 if it is to be done at all, during the season when the island force 

 would be busy at other Avork. It is recommended, therefore, that 

 at least five assistants be supplied the man Avho directs this work. 

 One of these should be a good carpenter who could act as foreman, 

 and the others should be laborers. All should be taken from the 

 States. During the sealing season there is an abundance of work 

 elsewhere on St. Paul for them to do. As stated, they would not be 

 needed on the rookeries until after August 10. 



Too strong emphasis can not be placed on the need of the work 

 outlined above and on the absolute necessity of its being provided for 

 wholly by outside labor. 



It may be asked, why the large St. Paul rookeries can not be counted 

 from a boat. It is not always possible to get out on the water for this 

 purpose, but when it is I have chosen the means in preference to the 

 ladder for Zapadni, Little Zapadni and Tolstoi. However, these 

 rookeries are becoming so deep that it is practically impossible to 

 get an accurate count of bulls from a boat. The areas are too broad 

 and the seals are too campact therein. 



