420 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



The tide began to rise, and it was more difficult to keep the seals from escaping 

 by way of the channel; 75 or 100 of them kept constantly approaching the boat, 

 which was held in mid-channel by an oarsman. When within a hundred feet they 

 could be turned easily by a shout or by holding up an oar. The seals turned about 

 and swam back 400 or 500 yards, but returned persistently. In trying to land Mr. 

 Clark and Mr. Townsend on opposite sides of the channel several bands of 25 or 30 

 escaped before the boat could get back into mid-channel. No amount of yelling on 

 one bank would turn them if both were not guarded, as they would simply keep close 

 to the other bank. 



Two boats with a man in eacTi, liowever, could keep the channel against any 

 number of seals, and a paling put across would make it impossible for them to get by. 

 With one man at the angle of the bluff and a man every quarter of a mile along the 

 shore of the lagoon the seals could be kept indefinitely in the lagoon. 



In the evening the seals were found scattered over the entire upper surface of the 

 lagoon. A large number were bunched at the foot near the channel. None had 

 attempted to withdraw by way of Tolstoi or Lukanin. 



The storm increased all the afternoon, and blew across the marshy ground over 

 the channel in such a way as to make it extremely uncomfortable maintaining the 

 guard there. At 7 o'clock, therefore, it was decided to release the seals for the 

 present. After the departure of the company's steamer another trial will be made. 

 There seems no doubt that 20,000 seals could be guarded in this lagoon if necessary. 

 If the lagoon were fenced, of course there would be no question. 



If seals can be kept in the lagoon, it will be possible the last week in August to 

 drive the bachelor seals on the hauling grounds into the lagoon and keep them 

 there until September 1. This would effectually keep them out of the way of pelagic 

 sealers, thus reducing the pelagic catch. 



A more important bearing of this experiment, however, is that if it is possible to 

 so keep the seals in this lagoon, the rejected ones from the drives can be kept from 

 returning to the hauling grounds. This would save their being driven and redriven, 

 thus reducing the labor of handling the seals on the killing fields. 



MR. LUCAS'S NOTES. 



At St. George 134 dead pups and 6 dead cows were counted on Staraya Artel. 



The live pups could not be counted, as many were in the water and more were 

 hidden among the rocks. Few emaciated pups are on this rookery, although some 

 were seen. 



One apparently gravid cow, large, heavy, and sluggish, was seen. Nearly all the 

 cows were off" the rookery, and a large proportion of pups were either in or by the 

 water. It is a favorable rookery, except on the rather flat slope, where the death rate 

 as compared with the number of cows counted is greater than on North rookery. 



Mr. Macoun and Colonel Murray counted dead pups on Zapadni ; 75 were on the 

 hillside, 124 on beach — 199 in all — and 2 dead cows. 



In the afternoon I counted dead pups on Little East rookery with Mr. Judge. A 

 count of living pups was also made and 1,319 found; this number, with the 31 dead 

 ones, gave a total of 1,350 pups for the rookery. Only one of the dead pups was 

 fresh. This one had died of starvation. There was 1 dead cow. 



Mr. Macoun and Colonel Murray counted dead pups on Great East, finding in all 

 112 dead pups and 2 dead cows. 



