3Sl) THIO FUR SEALS OP' THE PRI151L0F ISLANDS. 



I. Larye female pup, well fi-d: limss peifertly flat and empty; lias been sat 



n| and smothcrt'd, as if under a crushin;,' \vei<;bt; lieait and kidneys intact; liver 



slightly contused; stomach full of milk. 



5. Large female pup, well fed; lungs crushed and congested; liver with slight 

 contusion; ndlk in stomach; heart not injured, vessels full of blood; other organs 

 uninjured. 



6. Oldish male pup, very lean, taken from among the bachelors, probably run 

 over and crushed by them while weak from hunger; lungs completely crushed; liver 

 and other organs uninjured. 



7. Male pup, very lean; no fat; one lung badly crushed; heart contused; liver 

 congested; stomach empty; died from crushing, under pressure; probably tramijled 

 ujMin by bachelors while weak and hungry. 



THE DEIVES. 



Xone of the drives can now be shortened except to the disadvantage of the seals, 

 because the killing grounds are best located near jionds into which the animals can 

 be turned to cool ott' and refresh themselves. The nearest ponds are at present 

 utilized. A killing ground sometimes used for the Tolstoi drives has a pond near by 

 in the early ])art of the season, which later becomes dry. After the water has gone, 

 unless the weather is particularly favorable, the seals must be taken on some distance 

 further to the Ice House Lake.' 



It is to be remembered that the temperature of the water of the ponds into which 

 the seals are turned to cool off is warmer than that of the ocean. The temperature 

 of the water in the killing season is very much higher than is the sea in winter. No 

 seal has ever been known to show sign of a chill. The nearest approach to it is 

 when a southwest rain, accompaTiied by wind, beats upon the animal, iiarting its fur 

 and making it look miserable. Its discomfort is due not to the cold but to the beating 

 of the rain. It is doubtful if, with the thick fur, and especially the blanket of blubber 

 which the seal possesses, it is at all affected by the temperature of the water. 



A o-yearold bull, castrated by some unknown cause, is rej)orted as found on St. 

 Paul some years ago. It had fine, soft, smooth fur, above the average in value as 

 in size. This raises the question whether it is possible to practice castration for the 

 purpose of letting the bachelors grow older and larger before killing. The skin of a 

 5year-old without the wig would be a magnificent one. 



LACIOON. 



It is no more surprising that the families on Lagoon rookery go on their way in 

 full sight of St. Paul village, one-third of a mile away, than that St. Paul village goes 

 on with the rookery so near. Neither the seals nor the Aleuts can see the inside 

 household workings of the other; and each is wholly inditterent to the presence of 

 the other. 



The bull seal is far more dangerous to man than he imagines man to be to him. 

 If the bull seal were as aggressive as he is strong, he would drive man from the 

 island. But he never pursues; he only guards his home. 



' This note is inlliu-iiccd liy (lie current belief lield by the pi^ople of St. I':\ul. It is still a fact 

 that the "-reat killing grouiul on St. George has no water. While water is desirable it is not essential. 



