FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 45 



NORTHEAST POINT OR NOVASTOSHNAH ROOKERY (1872-1871). 

 [Its condition and appearance July, 1S74.'] 



Though this is the List of the St. Paul rookeries which I notice: yet 

 it is so much greater than any other one on the ishiud, or two others for 

 that matter, that ife forms the central feature of St. l*aul, and in truth 

 l)reseuts a most astonishing- and extraordinary sight. It was a, view of 

 sucli multitides of amphibians, when I first stood upon tlie summit of 

 Hutchinson Hill and looked at the immense spread around me, that 

 suggested to my mind adoubt whether the accurate investigation which 

 I was making would give me full courage to maintain the truth in regard 

 to this subject. 



The result of my first survey here, presented such a startling array of 

 superficial .area massed over by the breeding seals that I was fairly 

 disconcerted at the magnitude of the result. It troubled me so when 

 my initial plottings were made, and I had worked them out so as to 

 place them tangibly before me, that 1 laid the whole preliminary survey 

 aside, and seizing upon the next favorable day went over the entire 

 field again. The two plats then, laid side by side, substantially agreed, 

 and I now present the great rookery to the public. It is in itself, as 

 the others are, endowed with its own particular physiognomy, having 

 an extensive sweep, everywhere surrounded by the sea, except at that 

 intersection of the narrow neck of land which joins it to the island, 

 Hutchinson Hill is the foundation of the point; a solid basaltic floor, 

 upon which a mass of breccia has been poured at its northwest corner, 

 which is so rough and yet polished so highly by the countless pattering 

 flipi)ers of its visitors, as to leave it entirely bare and bald of every 

 spear of grass or trace of cryptogamic life. The hill is about 120 feet 

 high; it has a rounded summit flecked entirely over by the hollus- 

 chickie, while the great belt of breeding rookery sweeps high up on its 

 seaward flanks, and around right and left for nearly 3.^ miles unbroken — 

 an amazing sight in its aggregate, and infinite in its detail. 



A picturesque feature, also, of the rookery here is the appearance of 

 those tawny, yellowi.sh bodies of several thousand sea lions which lie 

 in and among the fur seals at the several points designated on the 

 sketch map, though never far from the water. Sea Lion Neck, a little 

 tongue of low basaltic jutting, is the principal corner where the natives 

 take these animals from, when they capture them in the fall for their 

 hides and sinews. ^ 



Cross or St. John Hill, which rises near the lake to a height of GO or 

 70 feet, and is quite a landmark itself, is a perfect cone of sand entirely 

 covered with a luxuriant growth of Elijmus. It is growing constantly 

 higher by the fresh deposit brought by wind, and is retained by the 

 annually rising grasses. 



At this point it will be noticed there is a salt house: and, here is the 

 killing ground for Northeast Point, where 19,000 or 20,000 holluschickie 

 are disposed of for their skins every season, their carcasses being 

 spread out on the sand dunes between the foot of Cross Hill and Web- 

 ster's house. A squad of sealers live there during the three or four 



'The sea lions breed on no one of the other rookeries at this island, the insignifi- 

 cant uiimber that I noticed ou Seevitchie Kamuiin excepted. At Southwest Point, 

 liowever, I found a small sea lion rookery, but there ai-e no breeding fur seals there. 

 A handful of Eumetopias used to breed on Otter Island, but do not now, since it has 

 been necessary to station Governuient agents there for the ai^preheusiou of fur-seai 

 pirates during the sealing season. 



