138 THK FUR SEALS OF THE PKIBILOF ISLANDS. 



others. In ISOd Mr. Elliott found that the herd on St. Paul had diminished to about 

 one fourth. A proportionate reduction for Spilki would have diminished it to less 

 than a dozen families. 



To one who understands the gregarious nature of the fur seal there is no surprise 

 excited by the abandonment of so small a rookery as this. The conclusion is inevi- 

 table that when reduced to a mere handful of harems, the animals moved over to the 

 larger Lagoon breeding ground across the cove. 



ORIGIN OF LAGOON AND SPILKI. 



We do not know which of these two rookeries was first established, but it is 

 reasonable to supi)Ose that the one originated as an overflow of the other, as both are 

 limited in extent. As the rocky spit on which Lagoon rookery is established appears 

 to be of recent formation, it may be that Spilki was the original breeding ground. But 

 in any case the simple explanation of the abandonment of Spilki is found in its small 

 size originally, the known fact of decrease in the herd, and the gregarious instinct of 

 the animals. When the remnant became too small to exist as a unit, its individuals 

 moved over to the Lagoon, to be with the crowd. 



THE ABANDONMENT OF MARUNICHEN. 



In further support of this, we may cite the only other example of absolute abandon- 

 ment of breeding territory on the islands. On the north shore of St. Paul formerly 

 existed a small rookery which has long since disappeared. Even the oldest inhabitant 

 (Kerick Artimanof) merely remembers it was talked of in ins childhood. His ex])la- 

 nation that it was a small rookery and never looked upon as important gives the key 

 to the situation. Its breeding seals abandoned their isolated position to be with the 

 crowds on the shores of Northeast Point or Zapadni. Interference on the part of man 

 can not be offered as a reason for its abandonment, for there is no more isolated and 

 inaccessible place on the island. 



ELLIOTTS THEORY FOR SIVUTCH ROOKERY. 



In his 1.S90 report Mr. Elliott explains the presence of a breeding rookery on 

 Sivutch Rock by saying that the seals had been so harassed by the severe methods of 

 drivnig employed on Reef rookery that they had sought on its surface a place where 

 they might rest in peace. He says that prior to the beginning of the severe driving in 

 188li the seals had instinctively avoided this jdace because of its exposed position and 

 the probable destruction of the young by the storms wliich sweep over it. In sliort, 

 he assumes a few seals had chosen to waive the instinct of self preservation and to 

 locate themselves in a dangerous position simply because of temporary annoyance. 



We have already spoken of the strong instinct of the fur seal and its lack of 

 reasoning powers. Such an explanation as this is wholly inconsistent with both. If 

 tlie animal possessed any such powers of discrimination as here assumed, there would 

 never be a second drive made from any liauling ground on the islands. 



SIVUTCH OVERLOOKED IN 1872-1874. 



We are inclined to believe that Mr. Elliott in 1872-1874 simply overlooked the 

 presence of tlus rookery. He says nothing about it in his earlier report. In 1890 he 



