280 THE FUK STEALS OF THE PRIBILOK ISLANDS. 



July 18. — In the drive from the Keef was an ohl bull with his ear t-ut off. The 

 natives testitied to the fact that the right ear of a number of male pups on the Reef 

 had been cut off in 1871. The left ear was similarly cut off of a number of male pups 

 on Lukaniu rookery. The presence of this 14 year-old bull shows the fact that seals 

 return to the rookery where they were born and live to be at least 14 years of age. 



July -'7.' — A drive from Zoltoi IJeef and Middle Uill yielded 983 skins, and closed 

 the season. 



November '2. — The natives killed pups from the IJeef, separating them on the 

 ground and killing only nuiles. 



November 7. — The remainder of the (piota of pup seals were killed, making in all 

 for the season 2,788. 



November 30.— Examination of the rookeries during the past week shows no seals 

 at Kitovi, Lukaniu, Zoltoi, Village Iteef (Lagoon), and Halfway Point; very few were 

 on Reef, Tolstoi, English Uay, Middle Hill, Southwest Bay, and Northeast Point. 

 Probably less than a thousand seals, all told, are on the islands. 



December 17. — The natives make food drive from Keef, killing 70S seals. 



December 31. — There is not a single seal left on the island. Their departure may 

 have dated from Christmas night, as about 20 were seen on the Eeef at that time, but 

 were not there the next day. 



1886. 



January 8. — One bull seal is hauled out to day on the lleef, and about 50 in the 

 water. 



January 19. — Fully 2,000 seals are in the water between Sea Lion Rock and the 

 Eeef. Some seals were hauled out on the point of rocks. 



January 21. — The natives made a killing of seals on Sea Lion Eock for food, getting 

 83. The weather for some time has been mild, this ])robably inducing them to haul 

 out. No seals are on any of the rookeries. 



January 29. — The natives killed seals for food at Southwest Bay.^ 



April 10. — A killable seal, the first this season, was seen in the water at Northeast 

 Point. 



May 2. — Two bulls were seen trying to laud on Sea Lion Eock; 6 killable seals 

 were in the water; 2 bulls were on Garbotch, and one was in the water trying to make 

 a landing. One bull reported from Halfway Point in the water; 2 were hauled out at 

 Northeast Point on April 28. and 2 in the water. Seals were seen in the water at 

 Tolstoi and 2 had landed. 



May ."). — A drive of 20 killable seals was mad« to-day, of which only 7 were killed. 

 This is the earliest drive in years. 



May 6. — I measured the Zapadni rookeries, on whicli at least a dozen bulls had 

 already taken position. A dozen more bulls were found on Northeast Point yesterday.^ 



' The retardation of the date at which the (]UOta was filled is worthy of note as showing the 

 growing scarcity of seals under the diminishing birth rate due to pelagic scaling. 



- The frequent departures and returns of seals for this season as here recorded are interesting. 



3 As a result of the measurement here referred ti>. Mr. Tingle found the breeding territory doubled 

 and the breeding population greatly increased over the conditiims of 1S72-1874. The absurdity of 

 this appears presently when the decline of the herd already under way at this time becomes so plainly 

 evident iu 1889. 



