20 THE FUR SEALS OF THE I'RimLOF ISLANDS. 



Ill Part II is given the minute ami detailed journal oi' daily observations of the 

 iiieinbers of the eoiiiinis.sion. This record, being' the chief basis for the conclusions 

 in the general report, becomes a most important part of the work. To it is appended 

 an abstract of the record in the log of St. Paul Island for the past twenty-seven 

 years, in so far as it pertains to the life history, and habits of the seals. 



The third division of the rejiort contains the series of special papers and reports, 

 already referred to, wliich deal with various phases of the life history, movements and 

 the surroundings of the seals, and which have been prepared by ditferent members 

 of the coinniissioii and by various specialists. These take up in minute detail such 

 l)hases of the subject as have important bearing on the fur seal question. 



lu Part IV are included the reports for the seasons of 189G and 18',»7 by Dr. 

 Stejiieger on the Commander and Kuril islands, which form a continuation of his 

 more extended investigations in the season of IS'Jo, the results of which have already 

 been published.* To the reports on the Commander herd such reference as has been 

 necessary to throw light n|Km the condition of the Pribilof herd have been made in 

 the general discussion. 



ITINERARY, 1896. 



The United States Fish Commission steamer Albdtros.s, with the American com- 

 mission and I'rofessor Thompson and Jlr. ^lacouii. of the British commission, left 

 Seattle on the morning of June 24, arriving at St. (ieorge Island, Bering Sea, on the 

 aiteruoon of July 8. July H, 10, and 11 were spent in and about this island making 

 general observations, photographing the rookeries, and counting the breeding seals. 

 The time between July 12 and 18 was occuiiied in similar work on St. Paul Island. 



July 18 the Albatross steamed for Uiialaska, leaving Mr. Townsend there and 

 taking Dr. Stejneger to the Commander Islands. July 30 to August 9 were spent 

 about these islands, August 22 to 2(i about the Kurils, and August 28 to September 2 

 about Ivobbeu Island, reaching Hakodate, Japan, Se[)tember 10. 



On July 28 Mr. Lucas, Professor Thompson, and ( 'oloiiel Murray visited St. George 

 Island, the first two returning to St. Paul on August o. Mr. Townsend returned from 

 I'nalaska August 8, and he and Mr. Lucas spent the time until the 12th at sea, on 

 board the Rush, boarding vessels of the sealing fleet. 



August 8 to 1-1, inclusive, was occupied, in counting dead jjups on St. Paul. 

 A similar count was made by Mr. Lucas and Mr. Macoun August 10 to 21 on St. 

 George. 



On August 10 Professor Thompson and Dr. Jordan left St. Paul Island in H. M. S. 

 Satellite for the Commander Islands, si)endiiig August 24 and 25 on the rookeries of 

 these islands and returning to St. Paul on September 1, bringing with them Mr. 

 Barrett Hamilton, another member of the British commission. 



Mr. Townsend left St. Paul on the company's steamer Homer for San Francisco 

 August 23. Colonel Murray returned from St. George September 1 and on the fol- 

 lowing day made experiments in branding \m\^^ on Lukanin rookery. Messrs. Lucas 

 ami r>iiiTett-Hamiltou spent September 2 to 5 at sea on the Hush, among the pelagic 

 >ealers. 



•The Kussian I'nr Seal Islands, Stejuemr; liuU. l^ S. Fish Com., 1896. 



