4 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 
steamer Albatross likewise secured several excellent negatives of some 
of the rookeries from other good positions in 1892, | considered it 
important to duplicate them also, and prints from these negatives of both 
years have been included among the photographs transmitted. Irom 
the appended catalogue of photographs, giving the dates upon which 
the negatives were made in each year, it will be seen that, with one 
exception, corresponding negatives were taken on the same or very 
nearly the same date, foggy weather sometimes interfering with the 
work, but not sufficiently to allow of any material change in the con- 
dition of the rookeries. The exception was at Northeast Point rookery, 
on St. Paul Island, which the writer was unable to reach until the seals 
had spread slightly. The difference in perspective observable in the 
photographs of the two years is owing to the fact that the photographie 
lens used in 1893 had a somewhat different angle from the one employed 
by Mr. J. Stanley- Brown. 
In comparing the corresponding photographs for the two years, it 
will be observed that only a few of them show any appreciable difter- 
ences in the abundance of the seals upon the rookeries to which they 
relate; but my personal observations clearly demonstrate that a moder- 
ate decrease i in the number of seals and slight changes in their distribu- 
tion did occur between the summer of 1892 and that of 1893 3, as described 
below, these facts being also more plainly brought out by a comparison 
of the charts. 
In this connection, it seems proper to explain that my acquaintance 
with the seal rookeries of the Pribilof Islands has not been limited to 
the investigation of last summer. I first visited these islands during 
June and September, 1885, at which time the rookeries were in their 
prime, pelagic sealing, just then beginning, having produced scarcely 
any effect upon the islands. Compared with the vast herds then ob- 
served, the body of seals now on the rookeries appears asa mere remnant. 
As the naturalist of the steamer Albatross, Lalso made observations on 
these islands from July 28 to August 10, 1891, and again between June 
30 and August 14, 1892, during a part of this latter period having been 
temporarily attached to the revenue-steamer Corwin, then engaged in 
following the breeding female seals out to their feeding grounds, on 
which, up to distances of 200 miles fromthe islands, specimens obtained 
by means of firearms were found to be in milk and to have undigested 
food in their stomachs. 
Recognizing the importance of designating the photographic stations 
previously referred to, so that they may be found without delay in 
future years, I have marked many of those located near permanent 
rocks or bowlders with their numbers in white lead, and I would respect- 
fully suggest that this work be completed next season. The rookeries 
at which the stations have been so designated are Great East, Little 
East, North and Starry Arteel, on St. George Island; and Reef and 
Zapadnie, on St. Paul Island. 
ITINERARY FOR THE SEASON. 
Accompanied by Mr. N. B. Miller, photographic assistant, I was 
landed on St. George Island by the steamer Albatross on the morning 
of July 11, and remained there until the 15th. Zapadnie rookery was 
photographed on the 13th; North rookery in the morning and Starry 
Arteel rookery in the afternoon of the 14th; the Hast and Little Bast 
rookeries during the morning of the 15th. The areas covered by the 
seals at each of these rookeries were plotted upon the charts on the 
same dates. 
