PUP Statistics. Summary. 



It will be observed that the result for St. George Island is unsatisfactory, inasmuch 

 as on three of its rookeries far less dead pups were found on the second occasion than the 

 first. The blue foxes appear to have devoured the carcasses wholesale, and only two 

 untouched bodies were found on the island. This destruction was most complete on 

 East and Little East Rookeries, aud just there I had noticed in the end of July the 

 especial number of foxes, some of which had their earths almost within the bounds of the 

 rookery. St. George may, therefore, be left out of the calculation, unless we choose 

 simply to ascribe to it an estimated mortality in proportion to that of St. Paul. 



The net result of the count for St. Paul is that, even were we prepared to admit that 

 no other causes save pelagic sealing were at work after the 15th August to lead to the 

 death of pups, and even if we reckon all the "starving " pups as starved, and add besides 

 the estimate of 20 per cent, for loss or defects of observation, we then should have a total 

 mortality to charge against the pelagic sealer a little more than equal to that which has 

 already taken place in the early part of the season from causes acknowledged to be 

 natural and apart from his agency. We may wonder that this mortality is not more, 

 considering that nearly 30,000 seals (of all ages and both sexes) were taken during the 

 summer in Behring Sea ; but it is clear we cannot prove more nor any longer allege more. 

 And such mortality is a very different matter from what has of late years been asserted to 

 take place. 



Dr. Jordan appears to charge in his preliminary Report the whole of this autumnal 

 mortality, the whole loss of pups after the August count, to starvation, resulting from the 

 operations of the pelagic sealers. I have no wish to dispute, nor have I any inclination to 



