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a subsidy for sealing-shooners, it is feared, that the sea- 

 ling will decrease to a greater extent than formerly. 

 Japanese never refuse anything, are satisfied with the 

 smallest earning and besides this at the present time the 

 herds are too insignificant in number to withstand such 

 severe capture by the increased quantities of sealing 

 vessels *). The symstoms for a future decrease of the sea- 

 ling. 



Photorgaphs of seal-rookeries on the Commander 

 Islands represent on separate, as well as on panorama 

 copies on several plates-whole divisions of rookeries in 

 all their unity, as characteristics of the dwelling-places, 

 as well as for a better acquaintance with their quantity. 

 Besides this there are potographs of separate family 

 divisions, where on the first place one may see in all 

 its glory, the head of the harem — the bull. On the photo- 

 graphs one can see, how densely these dwelling places 

 are covered with animals, also the number of harems. 

 This density is now very scarce — the harems are not 

 large — their favourite ideal being 15 females to one male. 

 On the photographs are taken single instances of killing, 

 also groups of females left free on the northern rookery, 

 which is occupied as soon as the bachelors are driven 

 away. 



There exist very few printed works in the Russian 

 language, regarding the sealing on the Commander Is- 

 lands, besides which they are old ones, such as those 

 articles, written by N. Grebnitzky and Waloshinoff 

 are very superficial as those by Dr. Sluinin. But in con- 

 sequence of the activity of the United States, there an 

 extensive literature exists in the English language, which 

 are in connection with the reports of the English par- 



*) Those rapidly disappearing seals on the Asiatic, as well as 

 on the American shore may be reckoned to the number of disappea- 

 ring animals. 



One naturalist even spoke of his conviction, thaf the pelagic 

 sealing only hastens the natural dying out of these animals. 



