108 



THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



ir)0. This year not a single cow located permaueutly on this territory, and the three 

 bulls, corresponding to the harems of last year, remained idle througliout the season. 



Another point where the shrinkage was jjlainly marked was at a prominent 

 observation point known as "Old John's Kock," about which during the summer of 

 1S9G a large harem clustered; the ground was fully occupied between it and the water. 

 This year the breeding seals did not reach within 100 feet of this rock at any time 

 daring the season. Again the absence of breeding seals from the runways and breaks 

 iu the clitt's of Lukanin rookery, another observation poiut frequented during both 

 seasons, was very marked. 



Similar examjiles might be cited from all the rookeries closely observed. Such 

 abandonment of rookery ground can have but one explanation, namely, decrease 

 iu the breeding herd. 



THE DECREASE IN DEAD PUPS. 



A Striking, though indirect, evidence of decline in the breeding herd is brought 

 out by the marked decrease in the mortality among nursing pups in the breeding- 

 season. On all the massed rookery portions the population of breeding seals was 

 much sparcer during the season of 1897. On the sand Hat of Tolstoi and in the 

 gullies of Zapadni only a small portion of the space occupied in 1806 was occupied 

 iu 1897. We are not, therefore, surprised to And the following contrast: 



Dead iiiipa, Anijust 10. 



Kookerv- 



Tolstoi Siind Flat, and adjaomt beach, 

 /aiiadni Gullies aud adjacent beaches 



Gorbatch 



Reef 



These counts were made where the death rate had to do directly with the 

 crowding of the seals ou certain defective breeding spaces. 



THE INCREASED MORTALITY AMONG COWS. 



In this connection may bcciteil one further evidence of decliiu^ On Tieef rookery, 

 where li5 cows wei-e found dead in 1S96, 41! were found in 1S97. The diminished supply 

 of cows led to fiercer struggles for their possession and consequently the death of a 

 greater number. The deaths of cows on the breeding grounds are due chiefly, if not 

 wholly, to the rough treatment by the bulls. 



THE DIMINISHED gUOTA. 



But the most clear and i)ositive evidence of decline is found in the I'eduction of 

 the quota of killable seals. The sexes are ecjual at birth. They must be subject to 

 like natural enemies and hardship. Whatever tends to diminish the bachelor herd 

 must in like measure affect the number of .'5-yearold cows which each year take their 

 ]ilaces as breeders on the rookeries. 



For twenty years after the islands came into the possession of the United States 

 it was possible to take each year a quota of approximately 100,000 young males. 

 During at least thirteen years of this period this quota could be obtained easily and 

 without exhaustiii.g the hauling grounds. This year it was more ditlicult to get a 

 quota of 20,000 skins Mian it was in 1S80 to get out; of 100,000. The inference is obvious. 



