RELATING TO PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 25 



Deposition of C. L. Fowler^ Assistant Agent of the lessees on the rrihilof 



Islands. 



HABITS PELAGIC SEALING 



Alaska, U. S. A., 



St. Paul Island, Pribilof Group, ss: 



C. L. Fowler, being duly sworn, deposes and Says: I am 4G years of 

 age, and was born at Stonebam, Mass. I bave been a resident ot tbe 

 Pribilof Islands most of tbe time since 1879. My occupation is tbat of 

 assistant agent of tbe lessees of tbe islands. 1 bave 

 bad eigbt years' experience on tbe sealing fields of St. Experience. 

 Paul and iSt. George islands, and I bave a practical 

 knowledge of tbe babits of tbe fur-seal wbile on tbe islands, and of tbe 

 nietbods used in taking and preparing tbe skins for 

 sbipmeut. Tbe bull seals arrive on tbe islands from ^""''^^ "'' ^""''• 

 tbe latter part of April to June 15, and most all of tbem 

 leave in August and iSepteniber, and I bave seen a few Migration of b«ii.. 

 as late as October. Tbe cows come to tbe islands be- 

 tween June 1 and July 20, and commence leaving in Arrival of cows. 

 October, and but few are found on tbe islands as late 

 as December, unless it sbould be a mild winter. Tbe Migration of cows. 

 young male seals from 2 to 5 years old come in May 

 or June, and baul out by tbemselvesj tbe older ones Arrival of young 

 usually come first, and tbey remain on or about tbe 

 islands until tbe inclemency of tbe weatber compels 

 tbem to leave, wbicb is usually late in tbe tall or early Migration of young 

 winter. Occasionally some remain till late in January. "** ^^' 

 Tbe pups are born soon after tbe cows arrive, and re- 

 main until October and November, and wben tbey re- ^"'"' °*"p"P'- 

 turn, tbe following season, do not stay on land mucb of tbe time. 



The killing season for skins takes place in June and July and none 

 but males are killed, and it is seldom tbat tbe cows 

 are ever in tbe drives at tbis time of tbe year. Sbould ^'•^'°" ^'''''■'°''- 

 a cow bappen to get into one of tbe drives sbe is care- 

 fully separated fi-om tbe rest, and permitted to go to ^^^^ ™*^^^ killed, 

 tbe water. Later in tbe season, wben food drives are 

 being made, and tlie ba.rems are broken up, a small ^o females kiiied. 

 number of cows are in tbe drives, but none are killed 

 unless by accident. Tbe natives wbo make tbe drives are very i^artic- 

 ular on tbis point, and notbing offends tbem quicker tban to bave a 

 female seal killed. They are very careful in bandling tbe seals, and 

 seem to fully apj^reciate tbe necessity of preserving tbe seals as well as 

 tbe laws relating to tbat subject. I never saw any 

 impotent bulls on tbe rookeries, and do not believe n° i-^potent bulk. 

 there ever was any, unless it was tbe result of age; nor 

 <lo I believe tbat young male seals were ever rendered dvi^",,?"-'"'^^ ^™"' 

 impotent by driving. There bas always been a plenty of ""'"'^'' 

 bulls on tbe rookeries for breeding purposes ever since t,. i i *. ,i 



Ti 1 ii-iT rivi-. •■. No lack ot bulla. 



1 have been on tbe islands. Seals bave decreased in 

 numbers very rapidlyin the last few years, and to any- 

 one wbo saw tbe breeding rookeries, as I did, in 1880, "crease. 

 the cbange is most wonderful. Tbe fiesb of tbe fur seal is used for 

 food by tbe natives and wbite men on tbe islands, and seaisasfood 

 is relished by tbem. I bave never known of any sick- 

 ness or epidemic among tbe seals, and I am of tbe ^o sickness among 

 opinion tnat tbe thousands of dead pups on tbe rook- se;a3. 



