472 THE FUR SEAL8 OF THE PKIUILOF ISLANDS. 



The scene of the branding- ojierations this morning is on tlio thit Jnst above and 

 back tVoin the middle ot Kitovi loolieiy. 



Two large pods, cows and all, are driven up. There are an unusual number of 

 cows in this morning, as the sea is wild from the storm of yesterday. As many 

 of the cows as possible are worked out as the pods are driven up. When the drove of 

 waiting animals grows small the cows are noosed and draggeil out. The pups are 

 examined for sex and culled for weak and starving ones. The work goes along 

 quickly this morning. In less than two hours Colonel Murray had 191 pups branded. 

 Toward the end time was kept, and it was found that 9 pups were branded in a 

 minute and a half. There is a little inclination on the part of the men to throw the 

 pups about unnecessarily. Though spoken to frequently they seem to forget readily, 

 OI-, what is more likely, they dislike the work. They evidently look with strong- 

 disfavor on bi'anding, and are more or less sullen. If branding is done on a large 

 scale it will need to be carefully supervised.' 



The presence of cows in the pods is hard on the pui)s. In dragging out the cows 

 ji'om one pod a large male pup is smothered. He will be taken home for experiment 

 Id castration and for examination of stomach contents. 



In searching for freshly dead pups ou the rookery one was found gasping and 

 nearly dead. It could Just raise its head, but could not get up. Fifteen minutes 

 later it was lound to be dead. A (piantity of black, tarry excrement had been voided 

 n the death struggle, which seems to be a coninion occnrrence. The aninial's mouth 

 was wide oi)en and pressed to the ground, just as was the case with the experimental 

 ]mp. 



EXPEEIMENTh IN CASTRATION. 



The dead pup brought home for experiment in castration and ex.iminatiou weighed 

 19^ pounds. It was in very good condition. It has begun to shed; the fur shows 

 brown. Judge Crowley says that it is the water hair which comes out through the 

 new fur that gives the gray color to the pups. 



Dr. Voss operated on the dead pup and thinks it will not be a diflicult thing to 

 castrate a living pup. The testes were found near the surface and within easy reach. 

 He is willing- to try a live pu]> later. 



The stomach of the ])up was empty save for a little mucus and a dozen or more 

 small. Jagged pebbh^s. Kither the puj) was beginning to starve or else his mother 

 liad been absent for some time. It is, however, not likely that an empty stomach 

 necessarily indicates a starving pup if the animal is otherwise in good condition. 



In the afternoon 1 visited I?eef rookery. As on Kitovi, an unusually large number 

 of cows are on shore. The water for the usual distance out from shore is fnll of i)U|)S 

 and yearlings. They play in the tremendous surf without fear; they have now learned 

 to (live under to avoid the curl of the big white breakers. 



AKDIGUEN. 



There are at least 3 freshly dead pups since our visit of September 7. Two young 

 bulls which were not there day before yesterday are on the level at the south side, each 



'It became evident later on that the uatives believed that the pups so branded would all din 

 .anyhow. An opportunity to rorrect this notion was found later ou. AX'hii! I he |iiips hiid fully 

 recovered the chief aud some of the old uieu were allowed to inspect them. 



