SEAL LIFE’ ON THE’ PRIBILOF ISLANDS: 13 
CONCLUSIONS AS TO CONDITION OF ROOKERIES, 
At the time of my inspection in July, 1894, the seal rookeries of the 
Pribilof Islands, taken as a whole, were found to be in nearly the same 
condition as in 1893. While the number of seals has slowly been dimin- 
ishing, the decrease having continued even during the period when 
Bering Sea was closed to pelagic sealing, no decrease. in general was 
noticeable this year up to the date of my departure from the islands on 
August 1. This is probably traceable to the cessation of sealing in the 
North Pacific Ocean on May 1, 1894, or soon thereafter. During the 
months of May and June the migrating seals become massed south of 
the Alaska Peninsula as they move toward the passes through which 
they enter Bering Sea, and avery considerable portion of the catch has 
been taken annually in that region by the fleet of pelagic sealers. By 
reason of the cessation of pelagic sealing on May 1 of the present year, 
the seal herd was spared the excessive killing from which it has usually 
suffered there in the past, and the rookeries, in consequence, presented 
approximately the same appearance as at the time of my last examina- 
tion. This was contrary to previous experience, aS an annual decrease 
had always been observed during the several preceding years. 
Circumstances affecting seriously the welfare of the seal herd arose, 
however, before the close of the present season, necessitating a second 
and later examination of the rookeries, which revealed an alarming 
change in their condition. By the award of the Paris Tribunal of 
Arbitration, Bering Sea, with the exception of a zone of 60 miles around 
the Pribilof Islands, was opened up to pelagic sealers after August 1, 
with the result of causing great destruction to the sealherd. The kill- 
ing of over 31,000 seals belonging to these islands and consisting chiefly 
of nursing females, was followed, necessarily, by the loss, through 
starvation, of thousands of young seals upon the rookeries. 
LOSS OF YOUNG SEALS IN SEPTEMBER AS A RESULT OF PELAGIC 
SEALING DURING AUGUST. 
After finishing the work of inspection upon the Pribilof Islands on 
August 1, I cruised with the Albatross among the fleet of pelagic sealers 
until September 9, when I landed again upon the islands to investigate 
the loss of young seals, which was reported as becoming serious. 
Thirty-eight vessels known tous, hunting just outside of the prohibited 
zone, took 31,542 seals during the months of August and September, 
these consisting for the most part of nursing females, which resulted in 
the additional loss, by starvation, of the young seals thus left without 
means of nourishment. Although sealing began on August 1, no dead 
pups were noticed on the rookeries until about September 1, after which 
time they were found in increasing numbers, and at the date of my 
departure from the islands, September 13, careful examination had dis- 
closed a loss of at least 9,000 pup seals, with a prospective loss of nearly 
as many more found in an emaciated and exhausted condition. With 
the assistance of Mr. Miller, the resident agents of the Treasury, and 
Mr. H.C. Chichester, I counted 2,349 pups upon the following rookeries: 
ST. GEORGE ISLAND. 

North rookery, September 9 and 10, Townsend and Miller (whole rookery).... 405 
Starry Arteel, September 9, Townsend (whole rookery) ---.------------------ 305 
East rookery, September 10, Townsend and Agent Ziebach (hill slope only)-- 18 
Little East, September 9, Miller (whole rookery) ......---.------------------ 140 
PRO UUIMCOMMECCL Me ae eta Sn and 2 Sas a hain Saye aratels Siayslataloiae sisle's'= 980 
Zapadnie rookery and beach portion of East rookery not counted, 
