280 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PKIBILOF ISLANDS. 



July 18. — In the drive from the Eeef was an old bull with his ear cut off. The 

 natives testified to the fact that the right ear of a number of male pups on the Eeef 

 had been cut off in 1871. The left ear was similarly cut off of a number of male pups 

 on Lukanin rookery. The presence of this 14-year-old bull shows the fact that seals 

 return to the rookery where they were born and live to be at least 14 years of age. 



July 27.1 — A drive from Zoltoi Eeef and Middle Hill yielded 983 skins, and closed 

 the season. 



JSTovember 2. — The natives killed pups from the Eeef, separating them on the 

 ground and killing only males.' 



November 7. — The remainder of the quota of pup seals were killed, making in all 

 for the season 2,788. 



November 30. — Examination of the rookeries during the past week shows no seals 

 at Kitovi, Lukanin, Zoltoi, Village Eeef (Lagoon), and Halfway Point; very few were 

 on Eeef, Tolstoi, English Bay, Middle Hill, Southwest Bay, and I^ortheast Point. 

 Probably less than a thousand seals, all told, are on the islaads. 



December 17. — The natives make food drive from Keef, killing 708 seals. 



December 31, — There is not a single seal left on the island. Their departure may 

 have dated from Christmas night, as about 20 were seen on the Eeef at that time, but 

 were not there the next day. 



1886. 



January 8. — One bull seal is hauled out to day on the Eeef, and about 50 in the 

 water. 



January 19. — Fully 2,000 seals are in the water between Sea Lion Eock and the 

 Eeef. Some seals were hauled out on the point of rocks. 



January 21. — The natives made a killing of seals on Sea Lion Eock for food, getting 

 83. The weather for some time has been mild, this probably inducing them to haul 

 out. No seals are on any of the rookeries. 



January 29. — The natives killed seals for food at Southwest Bay.^ 



April 16. — A killable seal, the first this season, was seen in the water at Northeast 

 Point. 



May 2. — Two bulls were seen trying to land on Sea Lion Eock; 6 killable seals 

 were in the water; 2 bulls were on Garbotch, and one was in the water trying to make 

 a landing. One bull reported from Halfway Point in the water; 2 were hauled out at 

 Northeast Point on April 28, and 2 in the water. Seals were seen in the water at 

 Tolstoi and 2 had landed. 



May 5. — A drive of 20 killable seals was made to-day, of which only 7 were killed. 

 This is the earliest drive in years. 



May 6. — I measured the Zapadni rookeries, on which at least a dozen bulls had 

 already taken position. A dozen more bulls were found on Northeast Point yesterday.^ 



1 The retardation of the date at which the quota was filled is worthy of note as showing the 

 growing scarcity of seals under the diminishing birth rate due to pelagic sealing. 



'^ The frequent departures and returns of seals for this season as here recorded are interesting. 



' As a result of the meaaurement here referred to, Mr. Tingle found the breeding territory doufeled 

 and the breeding population greatly increased over the conditions of 1873-1874. The absurdity of 

 this appears presently when the decline of the herd already under way at this time becomes so plainly 

 evident in 1889. 



