64 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



The total body weights of these yearlings, taken immediately after killing and before 

 bleeding or skinning, are interesting in comparison with weights of pups taken late in 

 the season. They indicate that after the pups leave the islands, fattened by an easy 

 life and ample nourishment from their mother's milk, they lose weight, and many of 

 them may actually return to the islands the following summer weighing less than when 

 they left. Under instructions to weigh six of the smallest pups and six of the largest 

 to be found on November 17, 1914, Agent Fassett submitted the following results: 

 Average of smallest four weighed 25-1% pounds; average of next smallest four, 33^ 

 pounds; average of largest four, 483^ pounds. Individual weights, recorded in pounds, 

 were as follows: 24^, 25K, 25^, 27K, 42X. 43K. 49.'<, 5^H- The average weight 

 of the four smallest and the four largest is 37.3 pounds, which may be taken as a fair 

 average for November pups; this is only slightly less than that of the yearlings. The 

 great variation in the weight of gray pups is doubtless due in part to early or late 

 birth, but it is evident that this is largely compensated during the first long hard winter 

 at sea, when the weaklings succumb and general vigor rather than mere weight deter- 

 mines survival, so that on the return to the islands the yearlings as a class show 

 comparative uniformity. 



Movements of yearlings. — The obser\'ations of branded yearlings in 1913, partic- 

 ularly those of Mr. A. G. Whitney, who has kindly submitted his notes for examina- 

 tion, show that yearlings first appear in very small numbers late in July, and that they 

 are seen in greater numbers in August and later months. They are seldom found on 

 the hauling grounds v«th the bachelors, but prefer the areas occupied by the cows and 

 pups, being found most frequently near the shore engaged in play with the pups, which 

 they do not greatly exceed in size. All specimens taken were of the male sex. Obser- 

 vations made in 191 4 confirm those of 191 3 in all important respects. Although no 

 branded yearlings were present in 1914, the identification of seals of this class was 

 rendered comparatively certain by the knowledge of the obser\^ations made the previous 

 year, and especially by the presence of known 2-year-olds with distinctive brands, 

 which were practically always available for comparison. During the entire month of 

 July the hauling grounds were repeatedly scrutinized for yearlings, but at no time were 

 any seals seen that were smaller than the known branded 2-year-olds. In the same way 

 all food drives from July i to August 18, in which seals to the total number of 5,105 

 were passed in review in small pods under close examination, showed nothing smaller 

 than 2-year-olds. The first yearlings were observed August 17, and after that date 

 others were seen frequently. Of those seen, however, only two were among the bachelors, 

 and even these may have been frightened away from the margin of a breeding area by 

 the natives in rounding up the bachelors. In view of these facts it seems highly improb- 

 able that yearlings ever resort to the hauling grounds in numbers, and it is practically 

 conclusive that during the killing season, which ends July 31, they seldom come to 

 land at all. 



Observations of yearlings made in 1914 are indicated by the following extracts 

 from the field notes of W. H. Osgood: 



August 17. Started at 7.15 a. m. for Northeast Point with Preble, Macoun, Hanna, Ball, and four 

 natives. Macoun stopped to botanize at Polovina. Went out (on Vostochni Rookerj') and drove 

 bachelors for branded 2-year-olds and clipped 31; also saw one St. Paul return and one St. George 

 return. Counted pods to a total of 2,945, and fully 1,000 got away into the water and elsewhere, and 



