22 FUE-SEAL HEED OF ALASKA. 



Ill 1913 Elliott and Gallagher declare that an "accurate survey" 

 and close estmiate show that S0,000 seal cows are now m existence on 

 the Pribilofs. . ^ . , , 



The above records of 1912-13, declare the fact that Dr. Jordan s 

 census of 1S97 (p. 15, Treasury Doc, 1994; Treasury Dept., 1898), 

 as above cited, was wholly misleadino- and far short of the truth, for 

 the loss to that herd of seal cows at the hands of the pelagic hunters 

 since 1897, annuallv, has averaged not less than 25,000, or a sum 

 total of 350,000 cows in 14 years up to 1913. 



That loss of 350,000 cows has caused a still greater loss to that herd; 

 it has caused the loss of 350,000 newly born pups on the islands, and 

 at the same time the loss of that 350,000 pups which would have been 

 born had the mothers not been killed, in the years following that 

 slaughter. That loss of thiee seals to the herds' sum total, when the 

 cow°seal is killed, declares that this herd of 1897 has lost annually 

 since then at least 60,000 seals, or 840,000, from pelagic sealing alone; 

 therefore at lea'st 1,000,000 seals, or at least 500,000 "cows, must have 

 been in existence when Dr. Jordan declared there were only 129,216 

 of them on the Pribilof rookeries in 1897. 



And, further, the census of 1913, showing 80,000 cows, or 190,155 



seals of all classes, alive on the rookeries then, declares the fact that the 



census of 1890, made by Elliott, in which he located 400,000 cows (a 



total of 959,000 seals ^of all classes), was fairly accurate and well 



ounded. 



THE FUR-SEAL CENSUS — COXCLLT)IXG SUMMARY, AXD RECAPITULA- 

 TIOX OF THE HOUSE CEXSUS SURVEY OF THE PRIBILOF FUR-SEAL 

 HERD OF 1913. 



The sea rookeiy margin seals aie all lying down into the surf wash 

 to-day. All of these harems are fairlv awash at this date (July 10-20, 

 1913), on the sea margins of the rookeries of both islands. In 1874, 

 and again in 1890, these seals laid up above those surf- washed mar- 

 gins at least 7 to 10 feet higher than they do to-day. Why are they 

 descending into the danger of '' surf nipping." which will destroy those 

 newly bom pups during violent storms ? Why, when there is the wide 

 open area now vacant, on which they rested in 1874, and 1890, right 

 behind them ? ' What has disturbed them ? What has caused them 



1 The following note officially entered in the journal of the United States Treasury agent, St. Paul Island, 

 under date of Oct. 11, 1S94, gives a fair idea of what a "surf nip" is and what it ineans as a danger to the 

 newly-liorn pups: 



" Thursday, Oct. II, 1894.— In company with H. D. Chichester and Xicoli KrukofT, visited North East 

 Point and counted the dead pups, resulting in the finding of 2,847. Owing to the tremendous surf of the 

 past few weeks the rookeries were well washed and thousands of dead pupscarried out to sea. Neon Man- 

 drigan, who is in charge of the watchmen, reported that at time^ the entti-e rookeries were submerged, and 

 this statement is borne out by the fact that the point is almost separated from the mamland, the only 

 passage being the sand beaches on either side, the intervening ground lieing covered with water, and forni- 

 ing a huge lake." 



" Thursday, Aug. 29, 1895.— X howling southeaster lilowing all dav. A large surf on all sides of the 

 island." 



Under date of Sunday, "Sept. 29, lsf|.5 " (p. 403), as to the effect of surf nip on pups, occurs the following : 



'■'Special Agent Adams, in company with Dr. Voss and Appolon Bordofsky, made a count of dead pups 

 on Lagoon Reef rookery. Only one dead pup was found adjacent to the water's edge, owing to the recent 

 southwest gales, during which the surf washed over the lower breeding grounds. The count was as fol- 

 lows: Dead pups, 300; pups in dying condition, 40." 



On page 410, under date of "Monday, Nov. 11, 189.5," Special Agent Adams de:'lares that this rustling 

 among the pups, cows, and bulls to count the dead pups is detrimental, in the following language: 



"Examinations of the Reef, Lukannon, Polovina, Ketavie, and Tolstoi, demonstrate the fa-'t that the 

 seals are mixed up, pups and cows being together and hauled well back from the water, a condition which 

 I am informed has never existed Viefore to such an extent. It has, therefore, been impossilile to make 

 di-ives from the above-named rookeries. A certain drive was ordered from Middle ITiJl. The seals seemed 

 restless, a condition noticeable ever since my return to the island, Sept. 13. Whether this is due to con- 

 stant disturbance during the summer and breeding season, thev being constantly subjected to scientific 

 investigation, can not say positively, Imt am of that opinion. The counting of pups on the rookeriss neces- 

 sitates the driving off of all seals, and is detrimental. It should be stopped. 



