ALASKA. 91 



the natives declare, has been slightly but steadily increasing. 

 The seals everywhere ou the breeding-grounds will become 

 speedily habituated to close observation when it is quiet and 

 undemonstrative, and take little notice of the approach of the 

 observer. 



The seals will be found to change a little every year from 

 rookery to rookery, but the aggregate number will be steadily 

 about the same. The condition of the seal-life this season of 

 1874 compares very favorably with that of 1872, as will be seen 

 from extracts from my notes taken on the ground : 



"Northeast Poikt, July 18, 1874. 



" Quite a strip of ground near Webster's house has been 

 deserted this season, but a small expansion is observed on 

 Sea Lion Hill. The rest of the ground is as mapped in 1872, 

 with no noteworthy increase in any direction. The condition of 

 the animals and their young, excellent ; saiall irregularities in 

 the massing of the families due to rain ; sealions about the 

 same ; none ou the west shore of the point." 



" The aggregate of life on this great rookery is about the 

 same as iu 1872, the 'hollusehickie,' or killable seals, hauling as 

 well and as nuuierously as before. The proportions of the dif- 

 ferent ages among them, of two, three, and four year olds, pretty 



well represented." 



" POLAVIXA, Jiihj 18, 1874. 



" Stands as it did in 1872 ; breeding and hauling grouuds in 

 excellent condition; the latter, on Upper Polaviua,are changing 

 down upon Polaviua sand-beach, trending for three miles to- 

 ward Xortheast Point. The numbers of the 'hollusehickie' 

 on this ground of Polaviua, where they have not been disturbed 

 now for some five years to mention in the way of taking, do 

 not seem to be any greater than they are on the hauling-grounds 

 adjacent to Northeast Point and the village, from which they 

 are driven almost every day during this season of killing." 

 " LUKANNON A^'D Ketavie, Juhj 19, 1874. 



"Xot materially changed in anj' respect from its condition at 



this time in 1872." 



" GoRBOTCH, Jiay 19, 1874. 



" Just the same. Condition excellent." 



" Keef, July 19, 1874. 



"A slight contraction on the south sea-margin of this ground, 

 compensated for hy expansion under the bluffs on the north- 

 west side. Condition excellent." 



