UNIVERSITY j 

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THE ROOKERIES OF ST. GEORGE. 41 



hillslope toward the east. The surface of this little rookery is rugged and broken in 

 the extreme, making it an ideal breeding ground. At its eastern end is the single 

 hauling ground, reached through the open space that lies between this and the 

 narrow breeding ground which occupies the reef beyond. 



15. Zapadni Reef. This rookery lies on a reef of bowlders similar to that occupied 

 by Lagoon rookery. The harems are grouped in scattered patches along the narrow, 

 rocky beach. At the end of the reef is a large hauling ground which is also more or 

 less common to the younger bachelors from the three Zapadni rookeries. Here the 

 sand beach of English Bay begins, which stretches around to Tolstoi rookery. 



These three breeding grounds were originally one, but the decrease of the herd 

 has so separated them as to make it advisable to give them distinct names. Their 

 combined herd is next in size to that of "Reef Peninsula, having about 60,000 seals of 

 all classes. 



At a considerable distance above Zapadni headland is an isolated hauling ground 

 for the older bachelors and half bulls, known as Southwest Point. A few still haul 

 out there, and a hair-seal rookery is situated on an islet offshore. The place probably 

 never contained a breeding rookery. 



16. Maruniclien (personal name}. This is an abandoned rookery ground on North 

 Shore. It was never an important rookery, and has long been deserted. The oldest 

 inhabitant of the village of St. Paul simply remembers hearing it spoken of when he 

 was a boy. No cause was assigned for its abandonment. A herd of hair seals haul 

 out in the neighborhood of this old rookery. 



THE ST. GEORGE ROOKERIES. 



The rookeries of St. George are five in number. They are smaller and less 

 important than those of St. Paul, containing only about one-sixth of the total number 

 of seals on the two islands. On account of the rugged character of the coast line of 

 St. George its rookery space is limited and the conditions less varied. The harems lie 

 chiefly along broken cliffs, on basaltic columns, and bowlder-strewn slopes. Four of 

 the rookeries are grouped on the northern face of the island, while the fifth lies 

 isolated on the southwestern corner. Beginning Avith this last rookery, the following 

 is a brief account of the breeding grounds of St. George Island: 



1. Zapadni (westerly). This rookery lies along the rocky beach of Zapadni Bay," 

 ascending the slope of the long hill Avhere the harems are located on flat benches of 

 rock. A part of the beach line lies at the foot of the cliff formed by the breaking off 

 of the hill. In the rear of the lower or beach portion is the hauling ground of the 

 rookery, reached by two breaks in the mass of breeding seals and extending inland 

 some distance. 



2. Staraya Artel (old guild). This is a very picturesque rookery, lying in a narrow 

 belt along the steep slope of a hill which breaks off in an abrupt cliff on the seaward 

 side. The beach at the foot of the rookery is a limited one, and the lower harems are 

 situated on shelf-like, rocky projections which gradually shade into the even surface of 

 the hill slope, on which the harems are closely massed. The hauling ground of the 

 rookery lies in the hollow formed by the inward sweep of the hill. In the hollow is a 

 small pond, once a lagoon, which the reef-like beach has cut off. Over this beach the 

 bachelors haul out and lie on the bank of the pond. 



