SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. or 
The thinning out of the breeding seals and the consequent recedence 
of the breeding limits toward the beaches is followed by the encroach- 
ment of grass upon the bare ground but recently occupied by seals. 
Attention is called to a series of photographs taken annually which are 
illustrative of this feature. 
It is impossible to represent satisfactorily the decrease of the rook- 
eries by photographs or charts. The former are limited in number and 
have frequently to be taken from unfavorable points, while the reduction 
of a great tract more or less occupied by seals to the limits of a small 
photograph is often misleading except to those familiar with the ground. 
The case of the charts is similar, the changes in extensive areas of 
land not being impressive when indicated upon charts of small scale. 
Special attention is called, however, to the large panoramas taken from 
Stations 5, 17, and G, showing the large rookeries of Northeast Point, 
Polavina, and Reef. In all of these very comprehensive views the 
decrease in the number of seals and the withdrawal of the breeding 
limits toward the sea front is apparent. 
ST. PAUL ISLAND. 
Northeast Point rookery.—The thin patches of seals upon each side of 
Sea Lion Point are reduced in numbers and area. From station 6 to 
the point two important breaks occur at points opposite the marshes. 
From the point to Station 5 the rookery has visibly narrowed and the 
seals have decreased in numbers. From Hutchinson Hill one of the 
most important changes of the year is visible. The photograph from 
Station 5 shows the wide rookery ground to be narrower than ever 
before. At only one point were young seals born as far back as the 
base of the hill. At Station 4 the change is amply shown by the pho- 
tograph, which, although taken eleven days later than in 1894, shows 
no indication of seals spreading to their former limits. South of Station 
4 the seals for the first time failed to cover an important tract extend- 
ing back in the direction of Hutchinson Hill. This is shown in the 
photograph from Station 3. The animals usually somewhat massed at 
this point have found room upon the immediate beach slope. From 
Station 3 to Station 1 the breeding seals are confined to the narrow 
beach slope, very difficult of examination. Here the rookery is exceed- 
ingly thin, which is indicated to a slight degree in rather unsatisfac- 
tory photographs. The decrease in the number of seals at this great 
rookery since 1894 is very marked. 
‘Polavina rookery.—The main rookery, situated on a comparatively 
level tract, is shrunken perhaps 50 per cent in dimensions, and at no 
point extends back to the limits of 1894. The small communities occu- 
pying the ledges under the cliffs north of the point were much reduced 
in numbers, and with the exception of a few stragglers did not overlap 
on the plateau above. The photograph of the main rookery, taken at 
short range, shows the breeding line to have receded toward the beach, 
while the level ground at the left remained unoccupied. Another view 
from Station 21, at still shorter range, shows a loss of seals from the 
foreground and extreme background. 
At Little Polavina rookery the branches of the rookery extending 
back on the plateau have been absorbed, while the remnant along the 
cliff is thinned and lies in patches. Foggy weather prevented satis- 
factory photographic work. 
Lukannon rookery.—The breeding line here was drawn somewhat 
lower than usual, and at no time during the season were the seals 
