10 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 
THE ROOKERIES IN 1804, 
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 
UNITED STATES COMMISSION OF FISH AND FISHERIES, 
Washington, D. C., February 25, 1895. 
Str: In aecordance with your verbal request, I have the honor to 
transmit herewith a report upon the condition of the seal rookeries, 
Pribilof Islands, Alaska, during the season of 1894, the same being 
based upon observations made by one of the assistants of this Commis- 
sion, Mr. C. H. Townsend, in compliance with the requirements of the 
act approved March 3, 1893. 
Very respectfully, HERBERT A. GILL, 
Acting Commissioner. 
The SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY, 
Washington, D.C. 
INTRODUCTION. 
The report herewith submitted is based upon observations made on 
the Pribilof Islands between July 12 and August 1, and again between 
September 9 and 13, 1894. It is accompanied by 11 charts and 38 pho- 
_tographic views, the former showing the outlines of the rookeries, the 
latter illustrating the condition of the most characteristic portions of 
each rookery, at the time of making the observations. The positions 
from which the photographs were made are identical with those from 
which similar views were taken in 1892 and 1893, while the dates of 
both charts and photographs correspond as closely with those of pre- 
ceding seasons as the conditions of weather permitted. This report 
should be considered in connection with those previously submitted, 
as being one of the series intended to present the yearly changes in 
the conditions of the rookeries. 
The steamer Albatross arrived at St. George Island on the morning 
of July 8, 1894, and remained there at anchor until the 12th without 
being able to effect a landing on account of stormy weather. Not wish- 
ing to detain the ship longer, it was decided to begin the work upon the 
rookeries of St. Paul Isl ind, where the See for landing are 
better, and, accompanied by Mr. N. B. Miller, laboratory assistant of 
the Albatross, and Mr, J. Stanley-Brown, I landed at Northeast Point 
on the evening of the 12th, the Albatross sailing tor Unalaska at once. 
July 15 was spent in examining and photographing Northeast Point 
and Polavina rookeries, and we reached the village by wagon in the 
evening, our baggage having been taken there from the Point on the 
U.S.S. Ranger. Onthe 14th we examined and photographed Zapadnie, 
Upper Zapadnie, and Tolstoi rookeries. On the 15th, clear weather 
continuing, we examined and photographed Reef, Ketavie, and Lukan- 
non rookeries, thus completing the necessary photographie work for this. 
island in less time than we had ever been able to do it before. I made 
a further examination of the rookeries of Zapadnie, Upper Zapadnie,. 
