46 



UNEQUAL DI.STl!II!UTIOX OF TKAMPLED PUPS. 



The dead pups were found to be very unequally distributed. On the rockj- rook- 

 eries, as Kitovi and Little Zapadni, ou steeper inclines, as at the south end of 

 Gorbatcli, dead pups were very few in number. 



DEATH TRAl'S. 



In the level tracts, and especially in sandy depressions or concave gullies, where 

 seals Avere closely massed, the numljer was surprisingly great. .Smooth areas, 

 whi-re the female seals are gathered in wedge-shajied masses, and where there are 

 no obstacles to hinder the movements of the bulls and no rocks under which pups 

 can hide, are recognizable as death traps. The worst death traps are on Tol- 

 stoi and Za])adni, but others exist on Poloviua, Vostochni, Morjovi, Keef, .and 

 Gorbatcli. The percentage of these eaily deaths from causes other than starvation 

 ranges from one-third of 1 per cent (Ardiguen) to 13 ]ier cent (Tolstoi sands) of the 

 total number of pups. 



For a clearer understanding of what is meant by death traps the following notes 

 from th(^ journal of daily observations may be quoted: 



" J'olvrina, AikjhsI 10. — The saudj' area at the angle of Poloviua rookery and lead- 

 ing back into the basin-like depression, hard and without bowlders, was an impor- 

 tant death trap. The harems were here crowded together. Three hundred and 

 fifty-six dead pu])S were found in this area." 



" Tohfoi s«»f/.s,* Atidunt /.'. — The great area of hard, sloping sand on Tolstoi was 

 found to contain ],4i)0 dead pups, the vast majority of them liaving been killed at 

 the beginning of the season while the umbilical cord was still attached. Early in 

 the season this region was covered so thickly with seals that they looked like a great 

 swarm of bees. This part of Tolstoi is the densest of all the rookeries. It is justly 

 called a death trap because it affords no obstacles to the movements of the Iiullsaud 

 no protection to the pups. The bowhb'rs at the foot of the sand are no better than 

 the Hat itself, because of the downward pressure of the seals massed above. Where 

 the dead ]>ups are especially numerous was the center of the large wedge-shaped 

 mass which reached out toward the angle of the sand beach where the bachelors 

 haul out. Doubtless the effort of the bachelors in endeavoring to make a short cut 

 to the sea is responsible for much of the fightiug at this point. The uppermost por- 

 tion of the mass of seals is protected by the ledge of rocks behind. Above the 

 northernmost green cliff on Tolstoi are also many dead pups, the iloor of tlie rookery 

 being here nuKlt^ up of ilat rock with occasional bowlders in place. Therc^ are many 

 concave depressions, and the few bowlders are too far apart to otter much }>rotectioii." 



"Zapadni, Aiif/utit 14. — Next comes the so-called Zapadni gully, the most etfective 

 death trap for ])ups on the island. This is a long, winding depression, 1 or 2 rods in 

 width, broadening at intervals and narrowest at the lowest part just before it spreads 

 out into the broad sandy Hat which lies al)Ove the rounded bowlders of the beach. 

 All parts of this gully were tilled with dead pups, but particularly that part just 

 above the wall of green rocks which bounds it to the south. Very many dead pups 

 were also found ou the bowlders below, near the water's edge."' 



'•In this depression in the height of the season much fighting was seen auiong the 

 bulls, and tiiere was no protection for the pups or hindrance to the movements of 

 the bulls. In addition to this, bands of roving bachelors come down the runway at 

 the upper end of the gulley and pass through the harems to the water. In the breed- 

 ing season the entrance of a half bull in this gully is the signal for a general light 

 until he is thrown out ;it the lower end. The bachelors are teuipted to use this run way 

 because it is smoother than the ordinary way over the rocks. The gully and the sand 

 beach l)elow contained 663 dead pups." 



EARLY DEATH OF TIJAMPLED PUPS. 



Of the pups here discussed the vast majority were killed in June or early July. 

 Most of them had the umbilical cord still attached. It is evident that their death 

 was caused by being tram])led upon by the bulls while very young and helpless. 

 Later the pups creep under the shelter of rocks or gather in pods about the rook- 

 eries or ou the beaches, and the number killed by bulls is very much reduced. There 

 is, however, among the earlier dead a certain number of large, well-nourished pups, 



* In 1891 and 1892 large numbers of dead puiis were seen on Tolstoi by Mr. Macoun 

 and others, the number being estimated by Mr. Macoun at 4,000 or more. This esti- 

 mate has been (]uestioned, but it is not impossilde even if no starved puj)S were 

 included in the enumeration. There were then miiny more seals on Tolstoi, and, as 

 the photographs show, harems extended farther out on the sands. 



