NOTIONS REGARDING THE SEALS. 139 



says it did not exist then at the earlier date. 1 Inspection of this rock on several 

 occasions during the seasons of 1896 and 1897 shows that it has probably always been 

 occupied as a breeding ground. It is certainly well adapted as such. It is not wind 

 swept or dangerous to breeding seals. The high ridge of Reef peninsula protects it 

 from the northern and western storms, while Otter Island breaks the force of the 

 storms from the southwest. Furthermore the drowning of pups by storms is one of 

 the rarests of accidents. 



The occurrence of a breeding ground on Sivutch Rock is perfectly natural. The 

 ground is adapted for rookery purposes. It is within a few hundred yards of the shores 

 of Reef rookery, and lies directly in the line followed by the seals in approaching it. 

 There is no need of seeking a more complex explanation. It would be a matter of 

 greater surprise if it did not contain a rookery. 



THE NOTIONS OF THE ALEUTS. 



Most of the absurd notions current regarding the seals have their origin in the 

 minds of the Aleuts themselves. At least they possess such notions now, though 

 originally they may have adopted them from the earlier restrictions which were once 

 iu vogue on the Pribilof Islands, and some of which are still enforced on the Com- 

 mander Islands. Some of these rules are the following: The prohibition of the use 

 of tobacco on the rookeries, of the wearing of hobnailed shoes, or of the lighting of 

 fires when the wind was in such a direction as to carry the smoke into the vicinity 

 of a rookery. 



The Aleuts may be excused for their beliefs. Their training and experience is 

 limited. They have had nothing to do with domestic animals, and have never had 

 opportunity to test the theories they hold regarding the seals. It was plainly the 

 belief of these people that direful results would follow our work of the past two 

 seasons on the islands. One intelligent native declared that the scarcity of the seals 

 was due to the tramping of investigators about the rookeries in recent years. Another 

 complacently declared that the rookeries were all right, because the old bulls came 

 back regularly and in large numbers. 



THESE NOTIONS SHARED BY GOVERNMENT AGENTS. 



That the fears of the natives have been shared in to a certain extent, at least, in 

 the past and are still held by the agents in charge of the islands, is evident. Thus, 

 we find recorded in the Jog of St. Paul Island, under date of June 11, 1891, the opinion 

 that the " constant and persistent running over the rookeries of Elliott last year at 

 this time may be charged with a large part of the falling off of seals driven." Again, 

 under date of November 11, 1895, the opinion is recorded that the "daily scientific 

 and photographic investigations" of the summer have demoralized the rookeries. 

 During the season of 1897 serious objections were made to the experiments in electrical 

 branding as conducted in the vicinity of the rookeries because of supposed injurious 

 effects which might result from the noise of the gasoline engine, yet the animals 

 themselves paid not the slightest attention to the engines or to the branding operations. 

 Most of them have not even yet noted the existence of man. 



1 See extract from log of St. Paul, Pt. II, under date of August 18, when Captain Bryant reports 

 many seals hauled out there. 



