SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 107 
Bringing together the estimates for all the classes of seals, we have 
the following: 
St. Paul: 


BRIGHT LONS Te oe pepciee haere hese se tes ater ere raf sic eis Sate a Sins siela coe tahaicsolatarcio’s 24, 144 
leyeeilintee Hmph asec a aniaaseoo Goose a ito yet MN ed nite esha lala 3, 839 
CE OWES gee erc TN ere a cla tehereie Peretti o or~ ey hatraneiin ie) ete, S aise) ee cloters.cte 61, 436 
TENS se So eel etesSsodus bade beeseesocsuEnoss se code Soetin copaea ULC 
- 135, 496 
St. George: 
ISCMIGIGUN 3266 codeed Hosted edo Sdot seobete soos sodegeotudes soenoder 
IBvenalinee lopulllky seed Sepa BS BSS hae Abe Bian odeecoosetopsaacdcee Kees 563 
COMME sss 55 ssesco cede te costed Sacco Seon desesossb bosses a3 S4ges¢ 8, 987 
JRO Se bis o Gb deo So BARA Shes SOOGod SEUE Se CeCe Saco meAees)s Gaerne 6, 741 
- 20, 481 
Rotalmumberiofisealsion, both islands)254..---o-- soos see ee acee ee 155, 977 
In my judgment the foregoing estimate is fairly reliable; but it 
should be remembered that it is only an estimate. In a matter so 
extremely complex, and with factors so constantly varying, I do not 
think any estimate can be made which will approximate the truth more 
than somewhat remotely. 
The chief use of such calculations in the present connection is, in my 
opinion, for the elimination of fanciful estimates of the number of seals. 
Thus, a statement that there are a million or half a million seals on the 
islands may safely be disregarded, as may equally any claim that there 
are but a few thousand remaining. It is probably asimportant to know 
how many seals are on any one or two of the rookeries as to know how 
many are on all of them, and this can be ascertained with fair accuracy, 
as shown by the enumerations of Ketavie and the Lagoon rookeries 
made this year. If it is found in July, 1897, that there are 3,000 cows 
on the Lagoon rookery, it may be fairly asserted that this rookery has 
doubled in two years. 
PRESENT CONDITION OF THE ROOKERIES AS REGARDS THE 
DECREASE OF SEALS. 
The three questions to which my attention was directed before visit- 
ing the islands as the most important ones for consideration are 
extremely difficult to answer. They relate to the present conditious as 
regards the decrease in the number of seals, the cause of the decrease, 
and the remedy. I realize now, perhaps even more fully than before L 
visited the islands, how difficult it will be to find a solution to these 
problems which will fill every need and meet every objection. Never- 
theless, I address myself to the task, with the hope that what I have to 
offer may prove at least suggestive. 
As regards the decrease in the number of seals, there is little to say. 
All persons who have visited the islands in recent years are agreed that a 
decrease has taken place, and I found no reason to dispute this conclusion, 
Being on the ground during only one season, I was unable of course 
to make comparative observations, but the condition of the rocks and 
herbage back of the present rookeries testifies in an unmistakable man- 
ner to the fact of their greater magnitude in past years. To take one 
instance: On the great inclined plain or “‘ parade ground” on the reef, 
which is now covered with low grass and flowers, and from a little dis- 
tance resembles a lawn of large extent, the cavities of the lava bowl- 
ders are filled with a dull felt-like substance, which upon examination 
proves to be composed chiefly of hairs of fur seals interwoven and 
matted down. This substance could not be made up from stray hairs 
