108 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 
blown hither and thither bythe wind, or from such as might be left by 
the passing seals during a drive. It betokens the former presence of 
numerous seals for a considerable period on ground now completely 
abandoned. 
Wherever this matted hair is found abundantly the tops of the rocks 
are worn smooth, a condition due clearly to the presence at some time 
of living seals. 
At the back of all the rookeries, often for a distance of 200 to 300 
feet or still more, this phenomenon is observable, and even among the 
high grass farther back, where the rocks are abundantly covered with 
lichens, a careful examination reveals the presence of matted hair, 
though usually in a friable and decomposed condition. 
On the Reef “parade ground” I examined an area about 50 feet 
square, which, according to photographs taken by the commission in 
1891, was completely bare in that year, and found that it was fully one- 
half covered with grass and flowering plants. This indicates that some 
of the changes at least are of very recent origin, and can in nowise be 
regarded as ancient. 
Such facts as I have mentioned demonstrate that at no distant time 
in the past the seals covered much more ground than they did this year. 
Of the changes which have taken place since last year I can not speak 
entirely from personal experience. For a knowledge of the conditions 
in 1894 I have relied on the photographs and charts prepared by Mr. 
Townsend, naturalist of the Albatross. These charts and photographs 
for 1894 I examined to some extent while on the ground this sammer, 
and more in detail since returning to Washington. In the latter 
instance I have had the advantage of comparing, side by side in com- 
pany with Mr. Townsend, those of 1894 with those of 1895. 
The work this year was done about ten days later than last, on 
account of the backwardness of the season. Making all allowances for 
seasonal and other influences, [have no hesitation in affirming that the 
seals were considerably less abundant this year than last. 
As already explained, the photographs were made under conditions 
unfavorable in many ways, and some of them are not serviceable for 
comparison. In others the shrinkage of the rookeries is very noticeable 
and should be evident to untrained eyes. This is true of the views 
from stations 1, 4, and 5, Northeast Point; stations 21 and 24, Pola- 
vina; station 12, Lukannon; stations 14, 144, and 15, Ketavie; stations 
16,17, and 18, Reef; station 11 and Station F, Tolstoi; station 7°, Lower 
Zapadnie; station, 2 North rookery (St. George), and Station B, Little 
East rookery (St. George). The changes which are observable result 
chiefly from a recession from areas of the rookeries, or a general shrink- 
age along the inland borders. Accompanying these changes is a ten- 
dency in breeding grounds, formerly of great continuous length, to break 
up into detached areas. This is very noticeable at Northeast Point, 
Polavina, aud Lower Zapadnie, St. Paul, and Great East, North, and 
Zapadnie rookeries, St. George, and may be observed both in the pho- 
tographs and charts of 1895, when compared with those of 1894. As 
Mr. Townsend informs me that he will report on these changes in detail, 
and as the photographs and charts are his own work, and furthermore, 
as his experienceruns back over many seasons, I donot deemitimportant 
to enter more into details here. I agree with Mr. Townsend that a 
noticeable shrinkage of the breeding grounds has taken place since 
1894. I regard the herds as in a very precarious condition as regards 
preservation, and while it is obviously impossible to fix limits in such a 
case, if the off-shore sealing operations continue as at present I should 
expect to see the cows practically exterminated in less than five years. 
