268 THK FUR SEALS OF THE PKIBILOF ISLANDS. 



1877. 



RECORD KEPT BY J. M MORTON 



May 16. — No bachelor seals are to be seen on tlu' rookeries; '2 sea lions are on Sea 

 Lion Roi'k. 



May 17. — The first seal appears at Village Hill (Spilki) rookery. 



May 21. — The chief reports about 00 bachelor seals at Reef Point. 



May 22.— Two bulls land at Village Hill (Spilki) rookery: a drive of 32!) seals is 

 made from the Ifeef for food. 



May 23. — Natives I'eturn from Otter Island and re])0rt no seals. 



^lay 29. — Northeast Point shows (10 yonng seals hauled out; 31 sea lions are 

 driven; the sea lion cows are beginning to give birth to the i)nps. 



May 30. — Several hundred yonng seals are lianled out at Halfway Point. 



j\Iay 31. — About 300 young seals are at Keef Point. 



-June 3. — Ajjparently about 800 young seals are at Southwest Bay. 



Jniu' 4. — Of the animals driven to day, 14A per cent were allowed to escape, being 

 undersized; 5 per cent' were 5 and 6 year animals. 



June 5. — The drive to-day consisted mainly of 3 and 1 year olds; per cent were 

 allowed to escape, being 5 and 6 year animals; 9A i)er cent were small. 



June 0. — Many "killers" were seen to-day, and several seals bear evidence of 

 having been attacked by them. 



June 7. — No young seals are on the Reef and a scarcity of this class is reported at 

 Northeast Point. 



June 9. — Of the seals driven to-day 15 per cent, large and small, were allowed to 

 return to the water. Nine females are seen at LukaniTi, being the first reported this 

 year. 



June 11. — A house is being built on Otter Islnnd as a residence for a lieutenant and 

 two sailors, who are to guard that island.-' 



June 12. — Of animals driven to-day about 20 per cent were too small, and allowed 

 to return to the water; of the rejected 7 per cent were of 5 years and upward. 



RECORD KEPT BY J. H. MOULTON. 



June 13. — Of the animals driven to-day most were 3, 4 and 5 year olds; about 30 

 X)ercent were allowed to escape, 12 to 20 i)er cent being aged 5 years and upward. 



June 14. — Of the drive to day 20 per cent were undersized; 10 i)er cent were of o 

 years anil upward.^ 



July 29. — The young seals (pups) are hauling out by themselves; the cows are off 

 in the water. 



August 4. — The skins from Northeast Point (20,348) were shipjjed to-day. The total 

 from St. Paul for the year is 60,526; from the two islands, 75,526.^ 



1 With tliia aud subsequent entries compare the statement of Captain Bryant regarding tlie 

 scarcity of bulls in the rookeries during the past two se.asons. We are forced to conclude tliat 

 Captain Bryant's are merely erroneous i onjectiircs. 



-So persistent had been tlic attempts to raid this islnnd tliiit, on :ii'rount of its isidnteil iMisitioii, it 

 was deemed necessary to station a jjuard there. 



^It is probable tliat these lif;nres were talien with a view to refuting Captain Bryant's statements 

 in 1875 and ISTH rc<;.irdin.n the scarcity of males for lireediui; purposes, and they effectually do so. 



'The reduction in the quota was voluntary ou the ]>art of the lessees. 



