148 FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



plotting of the breeding seals as tliey lay on the Reef and Garbotch 

 to-day. 



Here, at the very height of the breeding season, when the masses 

 were most compact and uniform in their distribution in 1872-1874, 1 find 

 the animals as they lay to-day, scattered over twice and thrice as much 

 ground, as a rule, as the same number would occui)y in 1872 — scattered 

 because the virile bulls are so few in number and the service which they 

 render, so delayed or impotent. In other words, the cows are restless. 

 Not being served when in heat, they seek other bulls by hauling out 

 in great jagged points of massing (as is shown b}' the chart'' uu from 

 their landing belts. 



This unnatural action of the cows, or, rather, unwonted movement, 

 has caused the pups already to form small pods everywhere, even where 

 the cows are most abundant: which shadows to me the truth of the fact 

 that in five days or a week from date, the complete scattering of tiie 

 rookery organization will be thoroughly done It did not take place 

 in 1872, until the 20th to the 25tii of July. 



In 1872, these cows were promptly met with that service which they 

 craved, and never hauled outside of their solid uniform, massing as they 

 covered the rookery ground. The scattering of these old bulls to day 

 over so large an area is due to extreme feebleness, and combined in 

 many cases with a recollection of no distant day when they had previ 

 ously hauled thus far out on this very ground, surrounded by harems, 

 though all is vacant and semigrass grown under and around them now. 



It is impossible not to consider the question which this scene every 

 moment prompts. What proportion of these old males which we see 

 here now, overdone and scant in number — what ratio of their number 

 will live to return next year? And if they do all live to return, what 

 manner of good will they be? In many cases will they be potent at all ? 

 And again, not a single young bull to be seen on the breeding grounds 

 or at the breeding margins. Where are they coming from? They, so 

 conspicuous by their numbers and aggressiveness in 1872-1874. Where 

 is the new blood which must take the place of the old and enfeebled 

 sires before us, already failing to meet the demands of the hour on every 

 side and ahead of us? Where is it? 



The only answer which my study of this season gives me, is that there is 

 no new blood mature enough left. The club and effects of driving have 

 destroyed it; slowly at first, but surely throughout the last eight years, 

 and rapidly during the last three of this period — especially rapid last 

 year and at the present hour. 



The pelagic hunter has lent his aid since 1885, to this destruction. 

 He has destroyed the cows especially; but, the half bulls have been 

 chiefly eliminated by driving, and the club, which has smitten nearly 

 every one of them as '' smooth" 4-year-olds whenever they appeared in 

 the drives during the last ten years throughout the killing season. 



In 1872-1874, when no driving was made from Southwest Point, from 

 the Zapadnies, and all English Bay to the westward of Neahrpahskie 

 Kammen, from Polavina, or anywhere between it and the hauling 

 grounds of Lukannon, then there were reservoirs of young male life 

 that were not drawn upon or disturbed from which a steady stream 

 of new male blood for the breeding grounds could and did flow. That 

 year here, when they first began to systematically drive from these 

 places, marks the beginning of the decay and present deplorable con- 

 dition of these rookeries of the Pribilov Islands. This extended driving 

 began in 1882, and was firmly established in 1884. The pelagic kill- 

 ing began in 1886, and from that year these two agencies have gone 

 forward hand in hand with this work of ruin and depletion. 



