90 HABITS OF THE ALASKAN SEAL. 



I*acific, save at the Commander (Komandorski) 

 Islands.^ 

 Climate. From May to November, inclusive (the period 



when the majority of the seals are on land), the 

 mean temperature is between 41° and 42° F.;^ 

 during August, the warmest montli, the mean is 

 47.2° F.;^ during the warm months of June, July, 

 and August the highest temperature reached was 

 62°, which occurred but once in eight years,"* and 

 the lowest was 28°, which was reached but once 

 during the same period.* This constancy of tem- 

 perature is further supplemented by the absence 

 of sunshine and the almost continual presence of 

 fogs, mists, or light rains.^ During eight years 

 the mean percentage of cloudiness on the islands 

 for the months of June, July, and August was 

 92;^ while during that period of eight years, con- 

 sisting of seven hundred and thirty-six days, but 

 eight clear days occurred and during the months 

 of August not one.* The same peculiarity of 

 climatic condition has also been observed at the 



» Charles Bryant, Vol. II, p. 4. 



« Samuel Falconer, Vol. II, p. 164; T. F. Morgan, Vol. II, p. 61; 

 Weather Bureau Tables, Vol. I, p. 591. 

 3 Weather Bureau Tables, Vol. I, p. 591. 



* Weather Bureau Tables, Vol. I, p. 592. 



* Charles Bryant, Vol. II, p. 4 ; Samuel Falconer, Vol. II, p. 164 ; 

 T. F. Morgan, Vol. II, p. 61; J. Stanley Brown, Vol. II, p. 12. 



6 W eather Bureau Tables, Vol. I, p. 593. 



