20 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PR1BILOF ISLANDS. 



In Part II is given the minute and detailed journal cHt' daily observations of the 

 members of the commission. This record, being the chief basis for the conclusions 

 in the general report, becomes a most important part of the work. To it is appended 

 an abstract of the record in the log of St. Paul Island for the past twenty-seven 

 years, in so far as it pertains to the life history, and habits of the seals. 



The third division of the report contains the series of special papers and reports, 

 already referred to, which deal with various phases of the life history, movements and 

 the surroundings of the seals, and which have been prepared by different members 

 of the commission and by various specialists. These take up in minute detail such 

 phases of the subject as have important bearing on tbe fur seal question. 



In Part IV are included the reports for the seasons of 1896 and 1897 by Dr. 

 Stejueger on the Commander and Kuril islands, which form a continuation of his 

 more extended investigations in the season of 1895, the results of which have already 

 been published.* To the reports on the Comrn;mder herd such reference as has been 

 necessary to throw light upon the condition of the Pribilof herd have been made in 

 the general discussion. 



ITINERARY, 1896. 



The United States Fish Commission steamer Albatross, with the American com- 

 mission and Professor Thompson and Mr. Macoun, of the British commission, left 

 Seattle on the morning of June 24, arriving at St. George Island, Bering Sea, on the 

 afternoon of July 8. July 9, 10, and 11 were spent in and about this island making 

 general observations, photographing the rookeries, and counting the breeding seals. 

 The time between July 12 and 18 was occupied in similar work on St. Paul Island. 



July 18 the Albatross steamed for Unalaska, leaving Mr. Towuseud there and 

 taking Dr. Stejueger to the Commander Islands. July 30 to August 9 were spent 

 about these islands, August 22 to 26 about the Kurils, and August 28 to September 2 

 about Kobben Island, reaching Hakodate, Japan, September 10. 



On July 28 Mr. Lucas, Professor Thompson, and Colonel Murray visited St. George 

 Island, the first two returning to St. Paul on August 5. Mr. Townsend returned from 

 Unalaska August 8, and he and Mr. Lucas spent the time until the 12th at sea, on 

 board the Rush, boarding vessels of the sealing fleet. 



August 8 to 14, inclusive, was occupied in counting dead pups on St. Paul. 

 A similar count was made by Mr. Lucas and Mr. Macoun August 16 to 21 on St. 

 George. 



On August 16 Professor Thompson and Dr. Jordan left St. Paul Island in H. M. S. 

 Satellite for the Commander Islands, spending August 24 and 25 on the rookeries of 

 these islands and returning to St. Paul on September 1, bringing with them Mr. 

 Barrett-Hamilton, another member of the British commission. 



Mr. Townsend left St. Paul on the company's steamer Homer for San Francisco 

 August 23. Colonel Murray returned from St. George September 1 and on the fol- 

 lowing day made experiments in branding pups on Lukauin rookery. Messrs. Lucas 

 and Bsirrett- Hamilton spent September 2 to 5 at sea on the Rush, among the pelagic 

 Dealers. 



'The Russian Fur Seal Islands, Stejueger; Bull. U. S. Fish Coin., 1896. 



