132 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



2 to 5 years old, and the salting, curing, bundling, and shipping the 

 skins. I have likewise carefully observed and noted the coming of the 

 seals in the spring, the hauling out at different times of the various 

 ages and sexes, their disposition on the hauling grounds and rookeries, 

 the formation of the u harem" or family, the breaking up of the harems, 

 the scattering of the cows, and the general intermingling of the sexes 

 in September, and finally the departure of the herd from the islands in 

 November or later. 



I have read most of all that has been written within the past quarter 

 century on the fur-seal question, and I have listened to and taken part 

 in many of the controversies indulged in by my associates and friends 

 who have spent many years in the fur-seal industry, and whose practi- 

 cal experience, with all its details, gives weight and value to their asser- 

 tions. It was I who, at the request of the United States Treasury 

 agent in charge of the islands, measured all the rookeries and hauling 

 grounds on St. George island in 1887, ] and I have kept the record of 

 the climatic changes on St. George since the United States Government 

 discontinued the ineterological station at the Pribilof Islands. 



In addition to my services as physician I have occasionally taught 

 the school on St. George, and I have kept the books and accounts for 

 many years for the lessees on the same island. 1 am thoroughly con- 

 versant with the orders issued by the general and local agents of the 

 lessees to the native chiefs in regard to everything appertaining to the 

 business of taking the annual catch and the care of the seals. I have 

 been intimately acquainted with the Treasury agents who have had 

 charge of the islands since 1880, and I acted as assistant agent myself 

 during the temporary absence of the assistant special agent. I am 

 quite familiar with the general and special orders and instructions 

 issued from the Treasury Department from time to time to the special 

 agents for the government of the natives and the care of the rookeries 

 and seal herd; and I know those laws, rules, and regulations have 

 been faithfully adhered to and fully enforced, published reports of 

 transient visitors to the contrary notwithstanding. 



The seal islands of St. Paul and St. George, geographically known 

 as the Pribilof Islands, are situated in Bering Sea at about 170 west 

 from Greenwich and 56 north latitude, and they are nearly 200 miles 

 from the nearest land. 



The climatic conditions in their immediate vicinity are so peculiar 

 and their formation and situation are so unique that it is not hard to 

 believe they were selected for a home and resting place by the Alaskan 

 fur seal because of their adaptability to that purpose and to that only. 

 The thermometer rarely goes higher than 60 or lower than zero, the 

 average for a number of years being 35. 



In winter the islands are sometimes surrounded by broken ice, which 

 comes from the north, and it will come and go with the tide and currents, 

 generally from January to April, but occasionally remaining later, and 

 again not appearing at all. 



In June, July, and part of August the islands are enveloped for days 

 at a time in dense fog, and a clear sunny day is of rare occurrence. The 

 atmosphere is damp and cool, and the rain falls in a sort of fine mist 

 which drenches one through before it is felt. 



The islands are of volcanic origin, and the shores are rough, uneven 

 lava rock, and broken rocks and bowlders of like formation. On this 



1 The measurements were made very imperfectly, and I never claimed anything but 

 an approximate measurement. It was my opinion that the numbers were exagger- 

 ated, and I so stated at the time. L. A. N. 



