KUR SEALS AND OTHER LIFE, PRIBILOF ISLANDS, I914. 65 



were not driven. Not the least doubt that there were over 4,000 bachelors hauled; many were in with 

 the cows and could not be herded. In all this number of seals only two were seen that by any possi- 

 bility could have been yearlings. These Hanna thinks undoubtedly were yearlings, and he was the 

 only one of the party that ever had seen any before. I was well enough convinced of it, for they were 

 obviously smaller than the 2-year-olds, the size of which is, of course, very well fixed in our minds 

 after all the branded ones we have observed during the summer. Only two in a drive of practically 

 3,000 seals, however, shows that they are on land in very small numbers, and I am positive we have 

 not seen any earlier in the season. 



August 20: Went to Tolstoi and watched seals. * * * Saw two seals (among the cows) that 

 appeared to be yearlings. 



August 21: This afternoon went to Gorbatch for a short time and found many bachelors on the 

 "Parade Ground," perhaps eight or nine hundred, including a number that were hauled out on the 

 plateau extending between Gorbatch and Reef. Was rather surprised to note a copulation near Rock 14. 

 The bull was an old harem master and the cow not very young. Her pup was quite small, evidently 

 only a few days old. Saw a couple seals I think were no doubt yearlings (near Rock 14). 



August 23: On Lukanin, saw a very small yearling not much larger than one of the largest pups. 



August 24: With a little search, yearlings can be found on any of the rookeries now. 



August 25: Went to Kitovi. * * * Saw a number of yearlings (15 or 20) along the edge of the 

 water playing with the pups and with each other. Went to Tolstoi again in the afternoon. Large 

 hauling of bachelors on beach. Saw a branded 2-year-old cow among them and photographed her at 

 short range with a 3-year-old bachelor that was paying her attention. Saw two or three yearlings near 

 the water's edge with the pups. Preble tells me he saw at least a dozen among some pups at the edge 

 of the water at Zapadni to-day. I don't believe they associate with the bachelors much more than the 

 pups do. 



August 28: Went over Reef, Ardiguen, and Gorbatch looking especially for yearlings and cross- 

 branded 5-year-olds. * » » Saw a couple yearlings on Gorbatch and a half-dozen on Reef, in both 



cases associated with the cows. 



THE 2- YEAR-OLDS. 



Two-year-old males. — Early in the season of 1914 seals began to be noted in the 

 food drives having the clearly marked T brand on the top of the head. These were 

 animals branded as pups in 1912 and therefore w^ere undoubted 2-year-olds in 1914. 

 As yearlings they had been noted in 191 3 in small numbers and only late in the season, 

 but as 2 -year-olds in 191 4 they appeared as early as June 12, and soon became fairly 

 common. As many as 32 were recorded in a single food drive of only 566 bachelors 

 on July 25 on St. George Island. Throughout the period from June 22 to August 28 

 failure to find at least several of these branded 2-year-olds on any hauling ground was a 

 rare occurrence. The brands were clear and distinct and easily recognized, making it 

 possible by the use of field glasses to note branded animals at a distance of 100 yards or 

 more and to compare them with the other bachelors hauled without any disturbance of 

 the herd. Allowing the usual deductions for natural mortality, not over 1,200 males 

 of the total branding of 5,529 pups of both sexes should have survived to the age of 2 

 years. Therefore it was not to be expected that any large number of them v/ould be 

 seen at any one time or place. However, an effort was made to keep a definite record 

 of those which appeared. In order that none should be counted twice, the branded 

 animals were caught and marked by clipping the hair from one side of the head and no 

 record was kept of any except those so marked. Owing to pressure of other matters, 

 it was not possible to make more than two special drives for this purpose, so the seals 

 marked and recorded were for the most part limited to those appearing in the food drives. 

 Moreover, through misunderstanding of instructions, the work was not continued through 

 August and September by the agent and was not resumed until late in October and 



