THE RUSSIAN FUR-SEAL ISLANDS. 79 



The answer came from an antboritative source that — 



No abuormal mortality hatl beeu observed among the pups on the Commander Islands. A few 

 are killed on the rookeries by the old bulls stepping on tbem, or otherwise, and others are caught in 

 the breakers and surf and are thrown on the beaches. The skins of these are all utilized and their 

 number on each island averages about 200 a year. 



This was also the opinion of everybody I spoke with. 



On August 1 and 2, 1895, Mr. (irobnitski and I visited the Karabelnoye Rookery 

 on Copper Island, i. e., the eastern end of it, particularly the beach near the "Stolp" 

 and the first breeding-ground. On the 1st of August we found "two dead pups, one 

 with the placental cord still attached, but too much decomposed to make au exami- 

 nation of the cause of death possible." 



The next day we visited the same place again: 



A few more dead pups were seen on the rookery this morning, all decomposed. They are easily 

 accounted for, and the native was undonl)tedly correct -who stated that he had observed that the great 

 number of sikati'hi [remember, there were plenty of bulls on the Copper Island rookeries] caused so 

 much fighting among them that many pups which came in their way got trampled upon and killed. 

 The number, however. Is plainly insignificant. 



On August 22, 1895, in company with the captain, Mr. Francis II. Pelly, and sev- 

 eral of the ofrtcers of H. B. M. S. rorpoise, I attended a large drive on the North lleef 

 Eookery, Bering Island, the same of which I have given a description previously in 

 this report (pp. 74-75). In order to fully appreciate the account which is to follow, 

 it is nec^essary to remember that this great rookery covers a long rocky reef and that 

 low tide (the difference between high and low water being about 4i feet) uncovers a 

 long stretch of rocky beach which forms the favorite roaming and playing ground for 

 the pups. (Compare photographs 19/> with 2'lh.) It should also be borne in mind 

 that, iis I have stated jireviously, it was extreme low water at the time we went with 

 the natives on the rookery to take the drive. 



When all the animals had beeu driven off, I remained behind to investigate. On 

 the rookery ground I was startled by the great number of dead pups. I was wholly 

 unprepared for this, because at the great distance from which it had become neces- 

 sary to watch the rookeries here the small bodies of the dead seals have not been 

 noticeable; in fact, I do not see how in the binocle they could have been distinguished 

 from sleei)ing ones. 



Tliose lying in a windrow along the high-water margin of the rookery were most 

 conspicuous. These had evidently been washed ashore. A good many of them were 

 in an advanced stage of putrefaction — some entirely flattened out and without hair. 

 But au equal proportion had evidently died more recently, being in good condition. 

 There was another class of pup carcasses, viz, those which were lying dead upon the 

 higher portion of the breeding-ground, away back from the water's edge. These were 

 mostly all in good condition and appeared as if they had died within a few days. 



When the seals were driven off, as many pups as possible were allowed to escape 

 into the sea, and they availed themselves of the op[)()rtunity offered to go off in large 

 flocks. But there was a considerable number of pups staying behind singly, which 

 upon our approach, made but feeble attempts at getting away. Evidently something 

 was the matter with them. Upon a closer examination they were found to be very 

 weak, and their thin, pinched appearance was at once noticeable. They were starving; 

 their shoulder l)l;ules and ribs and hi])s were sticking out in strong contrast to the 

 rounded and plump forms of those scainpering oft' with the others. Ui)on handling 



