14 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



ST. I'AIL ISJ.ANU. 



Garbotch (or Reef) rookery, September 10 an«l 12, Towneenil and Cliiibes- 



ter (west side only) 492 



Lajjfoon, September 12, Townsend, Cbicbester, and Treasury Agent .Judge 



(wbole rookery) 10;") 



Tolstoi, September 12, Tt)\viisend, Chichester, and Treasury Agent .Judge 



(hill and nearer beach) 4!)7 



Lower Zapaduie, Se])tember 12, Townseud, Chithester, and Treasury Agent 



Judge (wliole rookery) 275 



Total counted 1, :i69 



Total on both islands 2, 349 



On otber rookeries showing a similar couditiou I compared the 

 Tincounted area with tliat aheady counted, estimating the total loss as 

 follows : 



Upper Zapaduie 350 



Tolstoi (uncounted j>ortion ) 200 



Keef 1, 400 



Lukannon and Keta vie 350 



Polaviua 550 



Little Tolavina 100 



Northeast Point (greatest of all rookeries) 3, 000 



Total St. Paul Islau<l. estimate for uncounted area 5, 9.50 



East Rookery (St. (ieorge. uncounted portion) 200 



Zapandie (St . George) 450 



Total St. George Islan<l, estimate for uncounted area (550 



Total uncounted, both islands 6, fiOO 



Total counted, both islands 2, 349 



Total losj, botli islands 8, 949 



l*ersons familiar witli the comparative aiea of the rookeries will see 

 how low these estimates are. 



The bodies counted were those of pups that had died within ten days 

 or two weeks and were fresh, although greatly emaciated. No rotten 

 bodies, such as might have died during the breeding season from injuries 

 received on the rookeries, were included, although a limited number of 

 such were seen. 



The attempt to count weak, emaciated pups was given up, owing to 

 the dithculty of sej^arating any but the very weakest from the more 

 active and strong pups. Large numbers of starving pups were ob- 

 served, and they were, to the best of my belief, nearly as numerons as 

 the dead ones. In counting it was found necessary to pass over the 

 rookeries systematically, which resulted in clearing the section counted, 

 and driving most of the .seals into the water or farther inland, accord- 

 ing to the direction tVom which they were approached. All adults and 

 active pnps moved off in a body, followed by the less active and starv- 

 ing pui)s, there being occasional weak, tottering pups unable to do so. 

 These fell over frequently and seldom moved far. They were thin and 

 gaunt, and clearlj' starving. The majority of the ])ups were strong and 

 active and cows were observed everywhere suckling them. All dead 

 pups were confiiuMl to the regular breeding grounds and were evenly 

 distributed, indicating that they died near where their mothers had left 

 them. 



Young seals are very fat and seem to eiulure a month or more of 

 starvation before they succumb. I have, from year to year, observed 



