RECORD OF J. M. MORTON. 269 



August 10. — Nai more than 15 or 20 seals are reported on Otter Island to-day. 



August 27. — Lieutenant Eogers reports no seals on Otter Island. 



October 13. — A greatcliange has taken place in the appearance of the seal rookeries 

 within a few days past. Thelarge seals are in the water and the small ones are hauled 

 out on the water's edge. 



October 24. — A food drive was made to day and 140 killed, all stagy.' 



November 8. — The natives began to drive pup seals for food. 



November 12. — Driving of pups for winter food was completed, a total of 5,007 

 pups having been killed. 



December 25. — Several thousand seals are reported hauled up on Sea Lion Eock. 



1878. 



January 4. — Great numbers of seals are still in the water about the island and on 

 Sea Lion Eock. 



January 15.^ — The natives report large numbers of seals in the water about the 

 islands. 



RECORD KEPT BV J. M. MORTOIT. 



May 1. — The first seal was seen in the water to-day. 



May 6. — Two bull seals and two sea lions are reported at Northeast Point. 



May 7. — Snow and ice still prevent the free landing of seals. 



May 9. — Two bulls are on Gorbatch rookery. 



May 11.— ^Four bulls are reported on Gorbatch; 2 at Eeef; 1 at Kitovi; 1 at 

 Lagoon; several at Zapadni. 



May 19. — Seals are killed for food on Sea Lion Eock, 206 in all. 



May 26. — At Eeef Point from 200 to 300 bachelors are hauled out. 



May 29. — The first seals arrive at Zoltoi to day. 



June 5. — Observations on Gorbatch rookery show that the bulls are appearing 

 somewhat behind time. 



June 8. — ^Driving for the quota was begun to-day from the Eeef; 21 per cent were 

 rejected as too small and about 5 per cent as too big^flve years and upward. 



June 10. — Three cows were seen at Lukanin, the first for this season. 



June 18. — ^The quota of 82,000 skins was completed to-day. 



RECORD £CEFT BY J. H. MOULTON. 



August 31. — The month has been unusually wet. The seal rookeries and grounds, 

 however, present about the same appearance this year as at the end of Augtist last 

 year. 



October 18. — A drove of 125 sea lions were killed for food. 



October 31. — The small seals are leaving in schools every day. No bachelor seals 

 are to be seen on the hauling grounds of this end of the islands, 



November 1. — Food drives of pups begun, 



1 Attention is directed here. and elsewhere throughout this record to the waste involved in thus 

 killing seals while their skins were in a condition unsuitable for use. In the same connection should 

 be noted the waste of the pups as indicated by the record for November 12. 



2 No further record until May 1. 



