106 TiULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



But when 1 came back to tlie North Rookery aucl tried to apply my estimate, I 

 was entirely at sea. I could not make up my mind whether the seals on the average 

 were lying as close as above, or closer. Of course, I could see places where they were 

 thicker, and other's where they were thinner, but 1 could not, to my own satisfaction, 

 strike an average, if for no other reason, because there were great i^ortions of the 

 rookery of which I conld get no general view. Under those circumstances I would 

 have regarded it as the merest humbug to jiresent any figures pretending that tliey 

 meant anything. Consequently, I wasted no further time upon getting at the probable 

 number of seals on the Commander Islands rookeries. 



The only method which promises reliable results is the one adojjted now on the 

 Pribylof Islands by the experts of the United States Fish Commission, viz, to 

 actnally count the number of seals on several large tracts of rookery, each of the size 

 of an acre or more. In this way an average per acre may be obtained, which, multi- 

 plied by the computed acreage of all the rookeries, will give an approximate number 

 which may not be too far out of the way. But, unfortunately, this method is hardly 

 applicable to the Commander Islands, for various reasons, chief of which is the impos- 

 sibility of making an actual count over a sufficiently large area to insure a reliable 

 average. The rookeries are so very different among themselves that it would be 

 necessary to have a separate count of each of them. 



COMPARISON BETWEEN THE CONDITION OF THE ROOKERIES IN 1882-83 AND 1895. 



BKRINCi ISLAND. 



NORTH KOOKKRY, J882-83. (Plato 7.1 



When I hrst visited the northern rookery, thirteen years ago, there were three 

 distinct breeding areas, viz, the Reef and Sivutchi Kamen, counted as one; a smaller 

 patch between Babin and the creek, and Kishotchnaya. Tlie bachelors hauled out 

 on many of the outlying rocks surrounding the reef, and also in the rear of it on the 

 smooth, white parade-ground. A large patch of them occupied the space back of the 

 breeding-ground at Babin, large numbers extending a considerable distance back on 

 the grassy area later iii the season. Between the creek and Kishotchnaya there were 

 three iiatches of bachelors. The whole distance from Sivutchi Kamen to Blizhni ^lys, 

 tlierefore, was practically one continuous seal-ground. The breeding-grounds at 

 Kishotchnaya were surrounded by a heavy fringe of bachelors, who also sported in 

 great numbers on the smooth, gravelly space in the rear of the rookery. South of 

 Kishotchnaya, between the latter and Maroshnik, were again two separate patches 

 of bachelors. In 1883 for the first time bachelors were known to haul out regularly 

 throughout the season on the beach called Kisikof, beyond Maroshnik. They used 

 to haul out there — and even as far south as Fontanka — late in the season, but their 

 permanent settling on the beach in question was then regarded as an indisputable 

 proof that the rookeries were increasing. It was at this last-mentioned point that the 

 Otoiiie, an linglish schooner, with a Japanese crew, made a raid during a dark night in 

 August, 1883, and killed .'>00 to 10.) seals. The mate was captureil by the natives and 

 the schooner the next morning by Mr. Grebnitski, on board the steamer Alcksander II. 



The rookeries were in excellent condition, both as to (piantity and quality. All 

 classes of seals were well represented, and only skins of standard size were taken. 

 This was particularly the case in 1883, Avbeu the company's representatives had very 



