XIV CONTENTS. 



Paga. 



Report of the United States Bering Sea Commissioners— Continued. 



Number of pups at birth 326 



Dependence of pup upon its mother 326 



Cow suckles her own pup only 326-327 



"Podding-' 327 



Aquatic birth impossible 327 



Comparative size of bull and cow 327 



The harem •< 327 



Copulation 327-328 



Fertilization of young cows 328 



Age of j)uberty in cows 328 



Age at which males go in breeding grounds 328-329 



Feeding excursions 329 



Food 329 



Departure from islands : 329 



Time fur-seals remain on islands 329 



Length of time of migration 330 



Accidental births on coast 330 



Seasons that Pril)ilof Islands are the home of the fur-seal 330-331 



Alaskan fur-seals do not breed on coast of California 331 



Subdivisions of report 331 



Conditions ^3-/ 



Present condition <>32 



Sources of information 332 



Estimates of number of seals exaggerated 332-333 



(1) Evidence of eyewitnesses 333 



Decrease on Northeast Point rookery 333 



Visit of Commissioners 333-334 



Native testimony as to decrease 334 



The great decrease 334-335 



Extracts from testimony taken 335-338 



Difflculty of lessees to obtain quota 338 



Undisputed increase 338-338 



(2) Intrinsic evidence afforded by the rookeries themselves 330 



Tlie yellow-grass zone 339 



Worn rocks 339-340 



Bunch-grass zone 340 



Comparative size of areas 340 



Decrease shown by rookeries 340-341 



Decrease is in female portion of herd 341 



Difficult to notice decrease in females -^ 341 



Difficulty in obtaining quota after 1887 342 



Mistaking effect for cause 342-343 



Decrease shown by daily killing 343 



Eoport of Treasury Agent Goff 343 



