THE BRANDING OF THE PUPS. 471 



As I pass the "slide" hastily I note that the two old bulls that belong under the 

 cliff on the shelf are gone, and in their place is a fine-looking young gray bull which 

 I have not seen before. The outlying harems are all gone. 



BLACK BLTTFF. 



In the afternoon a visit is made to the pinnacle of rock off Black Bluff'. Took a 

 fresh sculpin about 15 inches long, tied it to a short stick of wood to keep it afloat and 

 dropped it off into the water among the swimming pups. The splash scattered them 

 for an instant, but presently four of the pups came to Inspect the fish. They dove 

 under it, coming up rubbing their backs against it. One of them took it by the tail 

 and pulled it down into the water. Another took the stick and swam away with fish 

 and all, followed by the others. For an hour they played with it until it drifted out 

 of range down toward East Landing. By this time the fish was torn to shreds, I 

 could not see that any of it was eaten. They treated the fish as they might have 

 treated a piece of cloth. 



Below me, on the rocks of the point, are 2 of the branded pups from Lukanln. 

 They are both sleeping. One is dry, the other has not long been out of the water. 

 To get to this point from where they were branded these pups must have swam more 

 than a mile. 



EBANDED PUPS. 



In going up to Lukanln I find another of the branded pups in the Amphitheater of 

 Kitovi. It lies on a stone the farthest back of any pup. It must have made an 

 unfortunate visit to Lukanin on the morning of the branding, or else it is making a 

 visit to-day. 



Below the Amphitheater on the beach lies a long slender piece of wood, the branch 

 of a tree. Four pups are apparently trying to get it out in the water. It is half in 

 and half out. They take hold of it with their teeth, one at each end and two in the 

 middle. They were probably playing with it in the water when it was washed ashore 

 and they want to get it in again. At least, one could easily imagine so from their 

 actions. 



Under the brow of Lukanin hill is a pup which was badly burned in the branding. 

 The three bars through their center length are raw and inflamed, and the pup is 

 evidently uneasy. Two other pups are seen with inflammation in one or more bars. 

 All others seen are apparently doing well. 



SEPTEMBER 11. 



The storm of yesterday prevented going anywhere. 



BRANDING ON KITOVI. 



Colonel Murray, Mr. Clark, and Judge Crowley, with 12 natives, went to Kitovi 

 rookery for the purpose of branding more pups. Mr. Macoun and Mr. Barrett- 

 Hamilton, were also present. It was decided to put just one brand across the 

 shoulders. 



On passing the Amphitheater of Kitovi the triple-branded pup, which was seen 

 two days ago, was found still there near its former position. It seems in good health 

 and spirits. This must be its home. 



