434 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PKIBILOF ISLANDS. 



iiucl himgry, as thoiigli they had eaten u]) all the young ones and were pressed witli 

 hunger themselves. As the men spent a week in catching them, it may be suggested 

 that the scarcity of foxes might be due to the tact that all were caught, or nearly all. 



THE HAXTLI^'(i GROUND. 



The hauling ground on the island is on the northern slope. It is of considerable 

 extent and in early days a large number of bachelor seals frequented it. The eflorts 

 of the guard to break up the hauling ground by driving ofl" the seals seem not to 

 have produced the desired effect. The extensive yellow grass is here as conspicuous 

 as on any of the hauling grounds of the other islands. 



We found 219 seals, more or less — some of them got into the water before it was 

 possible to count them. They were for the most ])art on the rocky reef that runs out 

 toward St. Paul, a reef resembling the one at Polovina. Only (J-l seals were hauled 

 (mt on the grass above the bank. The hauling ground, as marked by the seal grass, 

 is of considerable extent, though 2,000 to 5,000 seals could have denuded the whole 

 territory, judging from the effect produced by the ])resent small band. 



Among the seals on the reef of rocks there were 1 tine-looking bull and 5 good- 

 sized and healthy pups. The mothers were, of course, not distinguishable from the 

 bachelors and escaped with them, leaving the pups behind. It is the tirst time in the 

 memory of anyone on St. Paul that breeding seals have been found on Otter Island. 



It will be interesting next year to see whether this harem is again to be found, 

 and whether any additions looking toward the establishment of a rookery are made. 



The question arises, with the 00-mile limit in force, why the seals should not be 

 allowed to haul or even to have a rookery on this island. The reason assigned is that 

 it is ditficnlt to handle the seals there; but it would be no more difficult for a crew of 

 men to go over to the island in boats and kill the seals there than to go to Zapadni. 

 The skins are now brought by boat from Zapadni. 



ME. LUCAS'S NOTES. 



Observed a number of old males on Zoltoi for testes. In the larger old ones they 

 show very plainly; in the young ones not so plainly. With the young bulls it seems 

 largely a (juestion of the position of the body; sometimes they show, sometimes they 

 do not. 



Old bulls are scattered about everywhere — on the bluffs, on the sands, by the 

 landing, under the bluffs at this end of the Gorbatch, and in the little cove on the 

 west side of Zoltoi. 



The smaller bachelors have almost disapi)eared from among the bulls, which sleep 

 in the sun and enjoy life, their favorite position being prone on the stomach, spread 

 out as flat as possible. 



The pups are beginning to straggle from the rookeries. Two are found under the 

 bluffs a (inarter of a mile from the Reef. Two more a little nearer; one runs up the 

 rocks to escape; I find that he can run over the bowlders about as fast as I can. 



ARDIGUEN. 



At 4.30 I visit the slide. Seven wet cows are at top of gully; other cows are 

 coming up; some call and the pups go to them. One cow starts across in the 



