414 LETTERS OF NATURALISTS. 



CIRCULAR LETTER OF DR. C. HART MERRIAM. 



Dr, C. ITavt MeiTiain, one of the Ameiicau Bering Sea Coiniiiissioiicrs, 

 addressed the foUowiiig circular h'tter to various leading naturalists 

 in different parts of the world, for the purpose of obtaining tlieii' views 

 as to the best method of i^reserving the fur-seals of Alaska. 



Was HiNGTON, D. C, April 2, 1892. 

 Dear Sir: The Government of the United States having selected 

 me as a naturalist to investigate and report upon the condition of the 

 fur-seal rookeries on the Pribilof Islands, in Bering Sea, with special 

 reference to the causes of decrease and the measures necessary for the 

 restoration and permanent preservation of the seal lierd, I visited the 

 Pribilof Islands and made an extended investigation of the subject, 

 the results of which are here brietly outlined. 



Facts in the Life History of the Northern Fur-Seal {Cal- 



lorhinus Ursinus). 



1. The fur-«ealis an inhabitant of Bering Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk, 

 where it breeds on rocky islands. But four breeding colonies are known, 

 namely, (1) the Pribilof Islands, belonging to the United States; (2) 

 the Commander Islands, belonging to Russia ; (3) Bobben Beef, belong- 

 ing to Russia; and (4) the Kuril Islands, l)clonging to Japan. The 

 Pribilof and Connnander islands are in Bering Sea; RobbenReefin 

 the Sea of Okhotsk near the Island ot Saghalicn, and the Kuril Islands 

 between Yezo and Kamtchatka. The sijecies is not known to breed in 

 any other part of the world. 



2. In winter the fur-seal migrates into the North Pacific Ocean. 

 The herds from the Commamler Islands, Robben Reef, and the Kuril 



Islands move south along the Japan coast. The Pribilof Islands herd 

 moves south through the ])assesin the Aleutian chain. The old breed- 

 ing males are not known to range much south of these islands. The 

 females and young reach the American coast as far south as California. 



3. Returning, the herds of females move northward along the coast 

 of California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbiai in January, 

 February, and March, occurring at varying distances from shore. Fol- 

 lowing the Alaska coast northward and westward they leave the North 

 Pacific Ocean in June, traversing the passes in the Aleutian chain, and 

 j)roceed at once to the Pribilof Islands. 



4. The old (breeding) males reach the islands much earlier, the first 

 coming the last Aveek in April or early in May. They at once land and 

 take stands on the rookeries, where they await the arrival of the 

 females. Each male (called a. bull) selects a large rock, on or near 

 which he remains, unless driven off by stronger bulls, until August, 

 never leaving for a single instant, night or day, and taking ncitJu'r 

 food nor water. Before the arrival of the females (called cows) the 

 bulls fight savagely among themselves for ])ositions on the rookeries, 

 and many are severely wounded. All the bulls are located by June 20. 



5. The ])regnaut cows begin arriving early in June, and .soon appear 

 in large schools or droves, immense numbers taking their places on the 

 rookeries each day between June 12 and the end ot the mouth, varying 

 with the weather. They assemble about the old Inills in compact groups 

 called harems. The harems are complete eaily in July, at which time 

 the bleeding rookeries attain tlieir maximum size and compactness. 



0. The cows give birth to their young soon after taking their places 



