CONDITION OF SEAL LIFE /ON THE ROOKERIES/ 

 OF THL^PRIBILO^ ISLANDS 1893-1895. 



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By C'. U? T0WN8END, 



THE ROOKERIES IN 1893. 



LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 



Washington, D. 0., February 36, 1894. 

 Sir: I have the houor to iuforni you that durinrf the summer of 1893 

 an inquiry was conducted on the rribih)f Islands by the United States 

 Fish Commission, in compliance with the following clause contained in 

 the sundry civil appropriation bill for the fiscal year ending June 30, 

 1804, namely: 



Aud the Ctmunissionerof Fisheries is authorized and required to investigate, under 

 the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, and wheu so <lirected to report 

 annually to liira regarding the condition of seal life upon the rookeries of the Pri- 

 Itilof Islands, 



The report upon this investigation by the naturalist of the Fish Com- 

 mission steamer Albatross, Mr. C. H. Townsend, by whom it was con- 

 ducted, is herewith respectfully transmitted, in accordance with your 

 direction. 



Very respectfully, M. IMcDonald, 



Commissiouer. 

 Hon. John G. Carlisle, 



Secretary of the Treasnry, Washington, J), C. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The report herewith submitted is based chiefly upon the observations 

 made on St. Paul and St. George islands between July 11 and August 

 18, 1893, in conformity with the instructions issued for my guidance, 

 and with the object of determining the conditions of seal life upon the 

 rookeries of the Pribilof Islands during that period, as compared with 

 the corresponding jjeriod of the previous year. It is accomj)anied by 11 

 charts and 40 photographic views (105 plates),' corresponding mainly 

 with those made in 18!)2 by Mr. J. Stanley-Brown, special Treasury 

 agent, and forming part of his report to the Secretary of the Treasury. 

 Views were obtained from all of the photographic stations occupied by 

 Mr. Stanle^'-Brown, but as the photographer of the Fish Commission 



' This set of charts and photographs not transmitted for puhlication, the accom- 

 panying series for 1895. showing more reduced condition of rookeries, being deemed 

 sufficient. 



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