268 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



1877. 



RECORD KEPT BY J. M. MORTON. 



May 16. — No bachelor seals are to be seen on the rookeries; 2 sea lions are on Sea 

 Lion Bock. 



May 17. — The first seal appears at Village Hill (Spilki) rookery. 



May 21. — The chief reports about 60 bachelor seals at Reef Point. 



May 22.— Two bulls land at Village Hill (Spilki) rookery; a drive of 329 seals is 

 made from the Eeef for food. 



May 23. — Natives return from Otter Island and report no seals. 



May 29.— jSTortheast Point shows 60 young seals hauled out; 34 sea lions are 

 driven; the sea lion cows are beginning to give birth to the pups. 



May 30. — Several hundred young seals are hauled out at Halfway Point. 



May 31. — About 300 young seals are at Eeef Point. 



June 3. — Apparently about 800 young seals are at Southwest Bay. 



June 4. — Of the animals driven to day, 14J per cent were allowed to escape, being 

 undersized; 5 per cent^ were 5 and 6 year animals. 



June 5. — The drive to-day consisted mainly of 3 and 4 year olds; 6 per cent were 

 allowed to escape, being 5 and 6 year animals; 9J per cent were small. 



June 6. — Many "killers" were seen to-day, and several seals bear evidence of 

 having been attacked by them. 



June 7. — No young seals are on the Eeef and a scarcity of this class is reported at 

 Northeast Point. 



June 9. — Of the seals driven today 15 per cent, large and small, were allowed to 

 return to the water. Nine females are seen at Lukanin, being the first reported this 

 year. 



June 11. — A house is being built on Otter Island as a residence for a lieutenant and 

 two sailors, who are to guard that island.^ 



June 12. — Of animals driven to-day about 20 per cent were too small, and allowed 

 to return to the water; of the rejected 7 per cent were of 5 years and upward. 



RECORD KEPT BY J. H. MOULTON. 



June 13. — Of the animals driven to-day most were 3, 4 and 5 year olds; about 30 

 l)er cent were allowed to escape, 12 to 20 per cent being aged 5 years and upward. 



June 14. — Of the drive to-day 20 per cent were undersized; 10 per cent were of 5 

 years and upward.' 



July 29. — The young seals (pups) are hauling out by themselves; the cows are off 

 in the water. 



August 4:. — The skins fromNortheast Point (20,348) were shipped to-day. Thetotal 

 from St. Paul for the year is 60,526; from the two islands, 75,526." 



1 With this and subsequent entries compare the statement of Captain Brjant regarding the 

 scarcity of hulls in the rookeries during the past two seasons. We are forced to conclude that 

 Captain Bryant's are merely erroneous conjectures. 



= So persistent had been the attempts to raidthia island that, on account of its isolated position, it 

 was deemed necessary to station a guard there. 



^ It is probable that these figures were taken with a view to refuting Captain Bryant's statements 

 in 1875 and 1876 regarding the scarcity of males for breeding purposes, and they effectually do so. 



•• The reduction in the quota was voluntary on tlie part of the lessees. 



