SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 27 
THESROOKERIES TN 16899. 
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 
U. S. COMMISSION OF FISH AND FISHERIES, 
OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER, 
Washington, February 1, 1896. 
Str: I have the honor to forward herewith copies of two reports by 
Mr. C. H. Townsend, naturalist of the United States Fish Commission 
steamer Albatross, entitled as follows: 
Report upon the condition of the seal rookeries of the Pribilof 
Islands, Alaska, in 1895. 
Report on pelagic sealing in 1895, 
The former is illustrated by 11 charts and 42 photographic views, of 
which only the charts have been completed, and are now transmitted. 
The photographs are in course of printing and will be furnished at an 
early date. : 
Very respectfully, HERBERT A. GILL, 
Acting Commissioner. 
The SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY, 
Washington, D. C. 
INTRODUCTION. 
In the present report are recorded the results of observations made 
by the writer on the fur-seal rookeries of the Pribilof Islands, Alaska, 
during the summer of 1895, in continuation of the annual inquiries 
respecting that subject, beginning with the season of 1892. It is 
accompanied by lt charts and 42 photographie views, duplicating those 
of previous years—the former indicating the outlines of the breeding 
grounds and those of the hauling grounds in part, the latter illustrating 
the condition of the more important portions of each rookery at the 
height of the breeding season. The stations from which the photo- 
graphs were taken are the same as those previously occupied for that 
purpose, while the dates of both the charts and photographs correspond 
as closely with those of preceding years as the conditions of weather 
permitted or other circumstances, explained below, made advisable. 

PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 
The steamer Albatross first reached St. Paul Island, of the Pribilof 
group, on June 24, 1895, being then en route to the Commander Islands, 
Siberia, and remained at the former place until noon of the 26th. Mr. 
F. W. True, curator of mammals in the United States National Museum, 
together with an assistant, was landed on St. Paul Island for the pur- 
pose of making a series of independent observations respecting the 
rookeries, as was also Mr. N. B. Miller, assistant on the Albatross, the 
latter being provided with the necessary outfit for beginning upon the 
season’s photographie work in case of any unforeseen delay in the return 
of the ship. 
