PUR SEALS AND OTHER UFE, PRIBIEOE ISLANDS, I914. 73 



and native watchmen at Northeast Point and Polovina reported considerable destruc- 

 tion. A killer 24 feet long was stranded at Northeast Point on December 16, 1908. 

 On November i, 1913, G. Dallas Hanna observed three killers close to the reef near 

 the village of St. George preying on the seal pups. Two of these came so close to the 

 bluffs that he was able to hit them with a rifle and killed at least one. 



These records indicate that killer whales are by no means uncommon about the 

 Pribilofs. The stomachs of two killers examined by Capt. Bryant contained, respec- 

 tively, 18 and 24 seal pups,'' and it is certain that the total number of young seals killed 

 by them must be very great. 



DEATH OF ADULT SEALS. 



Regarding the death of seals at sea from natural causes little is known from actual 

 observation. Deaths from old age usually take place at sea and probably result mainly 

 from the animals being unable because of infirmity to procure food. There is good 

 reason to suppose that a very considerable loss of adults is caused by killer whales. 

 The fact that these destructive animals are frequently observed about the Pribilofs at 

 the time of the arrival of the main body of the seals strongly suggests that they attend 

 the seal herd on its migration. Entries from the St. Paul journal before referred to show 

 that many killers were seen on June 6, 1877, and several seals bearing evidence of hav- 

 ing been attacked by them were observed; many were observed between St. Paul and 

 Walrus Island on June 6 and 8, 1881; they were numerous May 15, 1884, and May 19, 

 1886, and on the latter date both the seals and sea lions were taking to the shore at 

 Northeast Point to escape them; many were seen close to shore on May 28, 1888, and 

 an entry of May 31, 1889, asserts that the natives reported killers more numerous that 

 spring than at any time within their memory. On June i, 1894, a school of these whales 

 was killing seals at Kitovi and near East Landing, and several were shot with rifles. 

 Other records of killers, in some cases accompanied by the specific statement that they 

 were preying on seals, occurred under the following dates: May 22, 23, and 26, 1900; 

 May 5, 1903; July 18, 1902; and June 6 and 21, 1910. That the old bulls do not suffer 

 much from their attacks is suggested by an entry under date of May 24, 1900, when 

 two killers were observed near the shore, while the bulls rolling about in the water near 

 them were not attacked and showed no fear. On the other hand large seals and even 

 sea lions have been known to take to the land to avoid them. Writers on the habits 

 of killers speak particularly of the destruction waged among seals by these voracious 

 animals. There is, of course, a certain proportion of deaths among the older seals, 

 principally the breeders, while they are on the islands. Deaths of bulls occur rather 

 rarely from fighting, though in the event of a great excess of males this factor might 

 be an important one. Under conditions as observed in 1914 no evidence of any 

 mortality from this cause was found, though several bulls were badly injured by their 

 fellows. In the case of the single bull found dead during the summer no specific cause 

 of death could be ascertained. 



Among the cows, deaths during the breeding season are mainly from two causes — 

 from the accidents of birth and from the injuries inflicted by the bulls in contending for 

 supremacy. Mortality from these causes has been elsewhere discussed (p. 54). In 

 general, the condition of the cows found dead at the time of the counting of pups is 

 such that the specific cause of death is not apparent. 



a Rept. Fur-Seal Investigations. 1896-97, pt. 3. p. 93, 1899. 



