38 



from the Reef, is less than a mile in length, its greatest elevation 75 feet. The longest 

 drive on ^ledui (from Palata) is some 2h miles, its greatest elevation 1,220 feet. In 

 Eussiau times, however, drives were made regularly from Xortlieast Point (Vos- 

 tochiii) to tlie village, a distance of 12 miles.* This may have resulted in pain and 

 injurj- to individuals, but no harm to the herd could have come iiom it. 



CHANGKS IN IXTEKEST OF HUMANITY. 



It can not be too strongly emphasized that all improvements in methods of killing 

 and all changes tending to shorten or make easier the drive serve the sole purpose 

 of avoiding pain and sntfering. They do not atfect the interests of the breeding 

 herd. In gcnt-ral no practice connected with driving, culling, or killing has been at 

 any time a factor in the diiuiuution of the fur-seal herd. The severe (Irives of the 

 Commander Islands, incomparably more harsh tlian were ever known on the Pribi- 

 lofs, have not had the slightest apprecialde iutluence in the reduction of the fur seal 

 herd there. The treatment of the bachelois, wliatever it might be, would atfect the 

 breeding rookeries no more than the treatment of horses on the London ouniibus 

 lines affects the royal stables. t 



SEVERITY OF DRIVES. 



As the severity of the drives on St. Paul has been a subject of considerable exag- 

 geration in certain quarters and as a number of impossible results have been 

 attri))uted to it, it will be well to cunsider the procedure s<uiu\vhat in detail. 



A DRIVE FROM THE REEF. 



The following account of the Keef drive of St. Paul is copied from the field notes 

 of Dr. Jordan and Mr. Clark: 



"The drive from (jorbatcli and Keef rookeries this morning (.July 15) was wit- 

 nessed l)y Dr. Jordan, Professor 1 hompson, Hr. ^te.jneger, Mr. Lucas, and Mr. Clark. 

 Captain Moser and Lieutenant (iarrett, of the Jlbalros.s, were also iiresent. Mr. 

 Crowley, Treasury agent, conducted the nujvemeuts of the visitors. Filteen Aleuts 

 made up the driving party. 



" We left the village at 2 o'clock in the morniug. It was then light enough to 

 make one's way without difticulty. After a few minutes' walk we reached Zolotoi 

 sands, a beach about one-fourth of a mile from the village, at the angle of which 

 the bachelors from Gorbatch rookeiy haul out to reach the rocky slope above. The 

 drivers ran in ([uickly between the seals and the se.a and soon hatl the animals 

 rounded up in a large pod. l-'rom a similar hauling ground on the shore just across 

 the neck of the peninsula another ))od was in like manner rounded up. The two 

 pods combined were left in charge of three men to be dri\'en across the sands to the 

 village killing ground a few hundred yards beyond. 



"We then proceeded to the extreme point of the Reef peninsula. The hauling 

 ground of Reef rookerj' lies in the rear of the breeding ground and has four well- 

 marked runways connecting it with the sea, on which no harems are located. A line 

 of idle bulls keeps clear a considerable space between the hauling ground and the 

 rookery. From the head of the various runways and in the interveniTig space pods 

 of sleeping bachelors were rounded up, the Aleuts ])assing between the idle- bulls 

 and the bachelors and turning the latter up the bank to the Hat ])araile gnuind back 

 of the hauling ground. Here the pods were all united in one largt^ group and the 

 drive started on its way. It was 3 o'clock when we reached the point and by 3.30 

 the drive was in motion. 



"After passing over a short space of ground scattered at wide intervals with 

 irregular bowlders and having a gentle slope, the drive came into the level grassy 

 plain of the parade ground. Here the herd. whi( h numbered about l,5(i0 bachelors, 

 was separated into two i)arts for greater ease ami safety in driving. NMiile one pod 

 was allowed to rest the otiier was driven slowly forward in tlu; direction of the vil- 

 lage. Three men were now assigned to each pod and tim rest of the drivers allowed 

 to return to thi- village to make ready for the killing. We followed the lirst herd. 



"Over the green turf of the parade ground the drive moved along quietly and 



- * The log of the island shows that in January, 1888, a drive of 500 seals was made 

 from Northeast Point for food. Instructions were given to bring the drive in care- 

 fully and kill all seals becoming exhausted on the way. No record is made of any 

 deaths. It is stated that the drive reached the village in good condition in two 

 sections, the time being, resi)ectively, 82 and 100 hmirs on the road. 



t It will surely not be contended that the killing of a large number of males injures 

 the virility of those not harmed. 



