ALASKA FUR-SEAL ROOKERTES, 1910. 19 



COWS IN DRIVES. 



During the killing season proper, closing August 1, the discipline 

 maintained by the active bulls on the rookeries was very strict, and 

 accordingly a very insignificant number of cows made their way into 

 the neighborhood of the bachelors and were driven to the sealing 

 grounds. Such as did so, of course, were subsequently released. 

 During a food drive on August 10, when the harems had commenced 

 to disintegrate, several cows appeared in the drive, but I was unable 

 to find a single one among the dead on the killing grounds. Doubt- 

 less females may occasionally be clubbed accidentally, but this year 

 I can testify that the greatest care was exercised, and I know of no 

 occurrences of the kind. 



FEEDING OF PUPS. 



For various reasons, up to the time of my departure from the 

 islands, no attempt was made to raise pups. The pair handled 

 successfully by Boatswain Thurber had shed the first coat and were 

 fully 3 months old; he was unsuccessful with the young, black 

 pups. These last named may possibly be reared if food of the proper 

 character be fed, but at the present time we are ignorant of the com- 

 position of seal's milk. In any event one must have not only a 

 large store of patience but an abundance of time, and whatever 

 may be said regarding the first requisite the latter is not forth- 

 coming during the summer, when one is concerned with numerous 

 other matters pertaining to the herd in general and must leave the 

 islands in August. 



CAUSES OF DEATH. 



Under normal circumstances the life of the seal of either sex is 

 probably from 12 to 13 years. Since the bulls are active for not 

 more than five seasons, one-fifth of the active list dies each year, 

 and as the cows are believed to breed during ten seasons one-tenth 

 of their number disappears annually. 



Judging from the reports of former years the season of 1910 was 

 one of comparative quiet. No fatalities due to fighting were noted 

 among the bulls, and only one cow was discovered whose death may 

 be attributed to rough handling on the part of a bull. 



On the killing grounds between 20 and 30 bachelors were found 

 with from one to three buckshot imbedded in various parts of the 

 body. Some of the resulting wounds were severe, but no deaths 

 were directly traced to this cause. 



In earlier times the ravages of the parasitic worm, Uncinaria, were 

 especially noticeable on the Tolstoi sand flat and portions of Zapadni, 

 but in recent years, due to the shrinkage of the herd, these Micas 

 have been abandoned. Very few cases were noted by Dr. Chichester 



