584 THK FtIR SEALS OF THE PKUJILOF liSLANDS. 



Beginiiiiin' at tlu; northern ixniit of Keel' rookery 3l-' dead ])Ui)s were counted to 

 the tirst rocky point. In this space were ."> dead cows grouped together iu a space of 

 a few rods. One cow was Iresii. IShe lay on her back. There were marks of a bull's 

 teeth in several places. Ilcr skull was broken. Mr. Lucas suggests that tlie bull 

 may have thrown her over his head in .such a way as to break her skull on the rocks. 

 This seems the probable manner of death, though the animal might have been clubbed 

 at sea and washed up dead by the hea\y surf of the past day or two. 



To the second rocky point 28 dead pups were counted. Oue dead cow was seen. 

 She was much decomposed, but the cause of death was aiii)arent. The skin over the 

 shoulders covering about one hnirth of the body was stripped ofl'. A living cow with 

 a similar but less extensive flaying was seen moving about and apparently doing well. 

 A pup with a largt^ piece of skin torn from its back was also seen. 



In the tirst triangular mass from this rocky point to the tirst pond were found J(!G 

 dead pups. This is a very large mass. Ten dead cows are in this area. 



The long mass lying between the two ponds has I'li dead ])ups and 3 dead cows. 

 On this flat ground the jiups show traces of Uncinaria. A few have evidently been 

 trampled. The pups, as a whole, are in good condition and sickly ones are few. 



Beyond the second pond is the largest mass of all, but the death rate here is only 

 77. There are, however, S cows grouped together. One of the cows is badly torn 

 about the shoulders aud back. Her side is torn open and the ])up still partially 

 covered with its membrane is ])rotrudiug from the Avound. 



On this space was a young bull iu charge of a 3-year-old cow with a newly born 

 pup. The bull could not have been more than (> years old. He would not leave his 

 post, neither would the cow. Under ordinary circumstances he would have fled 

 instantly, but the responsibilities of the situation seemed to give him the courage of 

 a veteran. 



While the cows and pups were passing down over the beach, a cow reeled over 

 and fell in a tit. Her limbs twitched aud the whole body quivered. The eyes rolled, 

 showing the whites, and the animal frothed at the mouth. She showed utter iiulittei- 

 ence when handled and rolled over. After a time she became (piiet, aud then 

 recovering herself, gave a bark of fright and hurried away. This is a ca.se exactly 

 similar to many seen last fall at the time of the count of starved pups. 



The loug stretch of beach to the tirst hauling ground beyoud the pond had (iS 

 dead pups aud o dead cows. This rookery space at no point reached above the 

 bowlder beach in the breeding season. Last year the harems extended a considerable 

 distance back. The first hauling grouiul luited as terminating this i)atch was not 

 noticeable last year and must have l)een nuich less extensive than it is now. 



In the small patch between this runway and the next were 26 pups, ^'o dead 

 cows were seen. To the third runway there were 29 pups and 1 cow. To the end of 

 the rookery there were <)-' pups and 10 cows. The cows were inclose proximity to 

 oue another. 



The Eeef had in all 25 cows last year. This year there are 42. The presence of 

 this large number of dead cows, for tlie most part in groups, pt)ints to increased 

 lighting among the bulls as the cause. The nuissed portions of tliis rookery, while 

 less iu extent, were more thickly beset with idle bulls, and the cows have suffered as a 

 consequence. 



