SKAL LIl-'K < >\ THi: PklP.ILoF ISLANDS. 



their condition and the number of seals: the number of cows to the 

 family, and the number of idle, vigorous hulls upon each rookery. 

 (.1 OMM >h M urra v. 



(pon my lii'M \'isi( to the rookeries and hauling grounds of the island 

 of St. i'aiil my at tent ion was at tracted to the evidences oi recent and 

 remote occupancy 1 y the seals. Marked differences were noticeable in 

 the appearance of \ cgetat ion on la rue areas formerly occupied as breed- 

 ing and hauling' grounds. while near the water's edge, more recently 

 occupied, the giound was entirely bare of vegetal ion. enabling one to 

 trace Ihe gradual decrease of areas occupied daring the last six to 

 eight years. My examination of ilie rookeries on St. Paul and St. 

 Ueorge dining the years is'.Ml. IS'.H. and IS!)U enabled me to trace the 

 yearly decreasing area occupied by the fur seals on these islands. 

 Aside from the evidences of deserted rookeries and hauling grounds 

 shown by native inhabitants of each island, the grounds occupied in 

 former years were now deserted and grass grown. The silent witness 

 of the deserted rookeries confirms the testimony of the resident agents 

 of the lessees of the islands and of the native inhabitants that the 

 number of :-eals began to decrease with the advent of pelagic sealing, 

 and that the yearly decrease has been in proportion with the yearly 

 increase in the number of vessels engaged in that enterprise, i S. I*. 

 Xettleton. < 



The decrease in tlu 4 number of seals coining to the islands in the last 

 three or four years becaaie so manifest to everyone acquainted with the 

 rookeries in earlier days that various theories have been advanced in 

 an attempt to account for the cause of this sudden change, and the fol- 

 lowing are some of then 1 : (1) "A dearth of bulls upon the breeding 

 rookeries:" (!'} 'Impotency of bulls caused by overdriving while they 

 were v<>ung bachelors." and o>) "An epidemic among the seals." ( L. 

 A. Xoyes.i 



M. Have you noted any perceptible difference in the number of seals 

 on the rookeries from one year to another.' If so. what changes have 

 vou observed .' A. \^ it hin t he la.--t four or five \ ears I have observed n 

 decided decrease in the number of seals on the rookeries. 



if. In what proportion have the seals decreased w thin the time men- 

 tioned '. A. As far as mv judgment goes. 1 should say at least one- 

 half. M. ( '. Red path. ( 



As the schooners increased the >eals decreased, and the lines of con- 

 tract ion on tli" rookerh-s were not iced to draw nearer and nearer to the 

 beach, and the killable seals became fewer in numbers and harder to 

 find. In IS* 1 ! th<- decrease was so plain that the natives and all the 

 aiM-nt^ on the islands saw it and were startled, and theories of all 

 sorts were advanced in an attempt to account for a cause. (J. (J. 

 Kedpath.) 



I had no difficulty in getting the si/e au<l weight of skins as ordered, 

 nor had mv predecessors in the office, up to and includ in;: b s s|. The 

 casks in which we packed them for shipment were made b\ the same 

 man lor :nan\ vears, and were alwav< of uniform >i/,e. In issf) these 

 casks averaged about 17.' skins each, at d in Is-Sd they averaged about 

 .">!)' skins each, as shown by the records in our office. After this date 

 the number increased, and in 1 SSS they averaged about ~>~> skins per 

 cask, and in 1 ss'i a\ erased about (>0 skins per cask. Tliese hitler wei'O 



