COMMANDER ISLAND NOTES. 449 



On Jledni Island conditions are very different from those ou Bering. Tbe 

 rookeries bore are so nearly inaccessible that many bulls escape, no matter bow 

 closely they are sougbt. Tbis, witb tbe reduction of females by pelagic sealing, gives 

 a large surplus of bulls ou Medni in spite of tbe close killing, every one that can be 

 secured being taken. 



It is not necessary to put forward tbe theory of different feeding grounds to 

 account for tbis, though such a theory would be necessary to explain tbe alleged fact 

 that Medni bas declined iiuicb more rapidly than Bering, as shown by Stejueger's 

 tables. 



STARVING PUPS. 



Mr. Barrett-Hamilton states that 172 surplus bulls have been killed this season 

 for food and leather for the natives of Medni. He has noticed a number of weak pups 

 witb black feces, evidently starving ones, but he thinks there are few or no starving 

 pu])s. Mauy are said to be killed by the surf. It is probable that if tbe rookeries can 

 be got at starving pups will be found here as ou St. Paul. 



The authorities deny that tbe pui)s are dying. They do not seem to have tried to 

 tiud out, however, and Mr. Grebnitzi says that Dr. Stejneger was mistaken in his 

 observations on this subject. He says that the starving pups Stejneger saw were 

 weak ones trampled or drowned. In any case, the number reported by him, in 

 Grebnitzi's estimation, is greatly exaggerated. 



Evidently tbe local directors have no interest in the truth and no knowledge of 

 methods of linding out. So what they have not noticed or do not wish to notice does 

 not exist. For tbis reason it is important that the rookeries should be closely 

 inspected. 



Mr. Barrett-Hamilton reports finding fish bones and squid beaks on the rookeries, 

 and be is doubtless right in considering them the spewiugs of seals. 



GLINKA. 



We land at tbe village of Glinka at 1 p. m. on August 24. Met Maj. N. S. 

 Waclismutli, the intelligent and hospitable governor of Medni. A start was at once 

 made for the rookeries witb Mr. Barrett-Hamilton, Professor Thompson, Dr. Jerome 

 Barry, ship's surgeon, and Sidney G. Haddock, chief engineer, Mr. Marrett, the 

 photographer, a marine, and several Aleuts, Capt. Albert C. Allen and Jlajor 

 Wachsmuth accompanied us to the top of the hill. 



We follow the Zapadni drive in reverse direction toward Zapadni rookery. 

 We are ordered by the Aleut watchman to keej) oft' the rookery, but a letter of 

 explanation is sent by me to Major Wacbsniuth, who gives permission to go on and 

 we visit Zapadni rookery. We walk along the beach past Sabatcha Dira to Palata; 

 then climb tbe slide of the Palata drive to the clitt's above Zapalata, Sikatcbinskaya, 

 and (iavarushkaya. We then walk along the beach over the Palata drive to Glinka, 

 which we reach about 6 p. m. Immediately on our arrival tbe Satellite sails for 

 Unalaska. 



Tiie waters of Bering Sea are full of small phosphorescent animals, to such a 

 degree as to make it luminous at night. 



