SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



37 



a Available as breeders at third year. 



LOSS OF YOUNG SEALS BY STARVATION. 



The steamer Albatross having left Beriiig- Sea in 1895 somewhat 

 earlier than usual, I did not visit the rookeries ou the Pribilof Islands 

 in September to repeat the observations made by me at the same 

 season in 1894, respecting tlie loss of young seals resulting from 

 pelagic sealing. Arrangements were made, however, with the resident 

 Treasury ngents for a full and explicit report as to the extent of the 

 damage that was certain to result from the presence of a large sealing 

 fleet in Bering Sea during the breeding season. Such report, recently 

 forwarded by Messrs. Adams and Judge, the resident agents of the 

 Treasury Department in charge, gives the number of dead pups upon 

 each rookery to October 10, the total loss of young seals for both islands 

 up to that time amounting to 28,00(5. Many weak and emaciated pups 

 were observed on all the rookeries, and these have doubtless since died. 

 Pup seals are very fat and can not be killed by starvation in less than 

 a month's time. Although many thousands of young seals were lost 

 by starvation in September and October. 189-1, on account of seahng 

 done in August, I found no dead pups until after September 1. From 

 that time on, the death of the young was continuous. 



The following summation of the loss for 1895 is accompanied by affi- 

 davits as to the correctness of the counts made: 



Loss of young seals ou the Fribilof Islands by starvation resulting from the killing of 

 female seals in Bering Sea in 1895. 



[Count in full to October 10, 1895.] 



ST. PAUL ISLAND. 



Ketiivie rookery 857 



Lukaniion rookery 1, 347 



Lagoon rookery 300 



Polaviua rookery 1, 970 



Garbotch rookery 1, 514 



Reef rookery 3, 376 



Upper Zapadiiie rookery 5, 231 



Lower Zapaduie rookei-y 381 



Tolstoi rookery 2, 582 



Northeast Point rookery 4, 017 



Sea Lion Rock rookery' 361 



Total 22,054 



ST. GEOH(iE ISLAND. 



Zapadnie rookery 2, 083 



North rookery 1, 559 



Starry Arteel rookery 1, 131 



East rookery 986 



Little East rookery 253 



Total 6,012 



22, 054 



Grand total 28,066 



