17 



great Killer (Orca orca) is the ouly animal certainly known to devonr pups at sea. 

 For about ten days in the later part of September and the early ])art of October 

 si/hools of these ferocious animals (miscalled "whales") uumlierinoj 3 to 7 daily 

 were seen patrolling the shore waters of 8t. Paul aiul St. George. That they were 

 feeding largely upon the swimming pups and seals was plainly shown by the flock 

 of gulls which constantly hovered over or lighted in their wake. The mangled car- 

 casses of one pup and one cow were washed ashore, but no estimate can be made of 

 the number actually killed by them. 



Of the destruction from other enemies we know less. It is not, however, likely 

 that any considerable number are destroyed by sharks, and but one species of shark 

 capable of injuring them is known from the North Pacific. This is the mackerel 

 shark, or porbeagle, called salmon shark at Kailiak {Lamiut coriiuhica). We can 

 only guess as to whether one-half, two-thirds, or three-fourths of the pujis survive 

 the tirst winter. The number of 3-year-olds is probably a little more than one-third 

 of the pu])s born three years ago. No count of yearlings, male or fenuile, will ever 

 be possilde. The sole factor, liowever, essential to a consideration of the mainten- 

 ance of the herd is the number of breeding females, and the flgures regarding these 

 are fairly aicurate. For those who insist upon an estimate of totals for all classes of 

 seals the following figures are submitted for the two islands: 



SEALS OF ALL CLASSES AT 0>'K 'miE OR ANOTIIEK ON THE ISLANDS OF ST. PAUL 



AND ST. (;i:(>R(;e, season of 1896. 



Breeding females 143,071 



Pni)s born 143,071 



Active bulls 5,009 



Reserve bulls 2,996 



Half bulls 5,000 



Four-year-old males 10, 000 



Thrce'-year-old nuiles 15, 000 to 20, 000 



Three-year-old females 15, 000 to 20, 000 



Twn-vear old males 20,000 to 30,000 



Two-vcar-old females 20, 000 to 30, 000 



Yearling males 25, 000 to 35, 000 



Yearling females 25, 000 to 35,000 



Total 429, 147 to 479, 147 



seals known TO HAVK DIED A150UT THE ISLANDS OF ST. PAUL AND ST. GEORGE 

 FROM VARIOUS CAUSES, SEASON OF 1896. 



Cows found dead on rookeries 131 



Bulls 28 



Bachelors 3 



Pups, from trampling, drowning, straying, etc 11, 045 



Pups, from starvation 16, 019 



Bachelors ((|uota) 30,000 



Pelagic catch 29, 398 



Total 86, 624 



Total living during season 429, 147 to 479, 147 



Total dead during season 86, 624 to 86, 624 



Total alive October 15, 1896 342, 523 to 392, 523 



HISTOHY OF THE PRIBILOF HERD. 



The size of the Pribilof Islands herd, according to the statement of the Aleuts, 

 reached its lowest point some fifty or more year.s ago at the time of a great ice jam, 

 in which many thousands of seals were drowned while attempting to climb the inac- 

 cessible bergs and floes. Of the condition of the herd in Russian times we have not 

 a clear record. When the herd passed from Russian to American control in 1868 it 

 was in good condition and was rapidly increasing. In the interregnum many bache- 

 lors were slaughtered by raiders, but the females were spared, as heretofore. Until 

 1872 and perhaps a few years after the herd continued to increase. During the 

 period from 1872 to 1878 it doubtless remained practically in a state of equilibrium 

 under the various checks acting upon it, of which the trampling of pups was the 

 chief, the Northwest catch, which remained stationary at about 5,000 during these 

 years, being another element of check. In 1878 the Northwest catch increased to 

 8,000, in 1881 to 10,000, the following year to 15,000, and in 1883 to 16,000. About 



7423 2 



