42 



SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



the corpus luteum not yet developed. From these studies, the first of 

 the kind, it would appear that female fur seals are first impregnated 

 at tlie age of 2 years, and bear their first young at the age of 3. It is 

 also apparent that nursing females are already pregnant when they 

 begin feeding at sea. In all cases in which the condition of the uteri 

 and ovaries could be made out with certainty it was found that preg- 

 nancy occurs annually and in the right and left horns of the uterus 

 alternately. Some of the nursing females examined were, from the 

 appearance of their teeth, judged to be very old. These observations, 

 apparently demonstrating a wonderful regularity in the breeding of 

 the seal, are of special importance in calculating the length of time 

 that would be re(iuired for the restoration of the Pril)ilof rookeries if 

 complete protection could be secured for female seals of all classes. 



Of 123 stomachs of seals examined, 49 were empty or contained merely 

 abdominal worms or bloody mucus. Of 73 with food, 4(5 contained 

 chiefly squid, 23 pollock or cod, while 4 contained salmon. The majority 

 had mixed with the squid or larger fishes the bones of very small fishes 

 resembling sand lants or tomcod — perhai)s the young of pollock or cod. 



These examinations of seals taken oli soundings at different times 

 and places indicate that seals find plenty of food beyond the great fish- 

 ing banks ; that squid is the favorite food ; that pollock and small fishes 

 come next, while salmon and cod rank last, at least in this part of 

 Bering Sea. 



The catches of seals for 1894 and 1895 were made for the most part 

 off soundings. 



Table shoicing the results of observations made on fur seals taken at sea in livring Seat 

 August 11 to 21, 1895, respecting sex, age, pregnancy, and food. 



SCHOONER M. M. MOKRILL. 



Sex. 



Male. 



...do . 



...do. 



...do. 



...do. 



...do. 



...do , 



...do, 



...do 



...do. 



...do 



...do 



...do 



...do 



[Latitude, 55° 12' north; longitude, 170° 25' west. Date, August 11. | 



3 years . 



Female ... lyear.. 



do 2 years. 



do I lyear.. 



Ovaries. 



Uterus, 

 horn show- 

 ing former 

 pregnancy. 



Scar result- 

 ing from 

 former 

 pregnancy 

 (corpus albi- 

 cans). 



Sign of 

 recent im- 

 pregnation 

 (corpus 

 luteum). 



Stomach contents. 



Nursing.. Right Right [Left.. 



do do do I do 



..do.... 

 ..do .... 

 ..do .... 

 ...do .... 

 ...do.... 

 ..do .... 

 ...do ... 

 ...do ... 

 ...do ... 

 ...do... 

 ...do ... 



Left Left .... 



Right Right... 



Left (?) 



Right Right... 



do do .. 



(?) (•') 



Right. 

 Left . . 

 Right. 

 Left . . 



do 



do 



Left 



Lost I Lost , 



-do 



.do 



Right Right. 



-do 



Small quantity of small fish and 

 squid. 



Bo. 



Do. 

 Small (|uantity of small fish and 



.s(|ind (.saiid'lants .'). 

 Small (|uantitY siiuid beaka. 

 Squid ; small fish. 



Do. 

 Two pollock. 

 Empty. 

 One squid. 

 Empty. 

 Squid. 

 Empty. 



Pollock; squid beaks. 

 Empty. 



Small fish; squid. 

 Small sqtiid. 



a Serial number used only where specimens were saved. 



