484 THE FUB SEALS OF THE PEIBILOF ISLANDS. 



KITOVI AND LUKANIN. 



lu the afternoon I go to Kitovi and Lukanin. The usual pups are on the flat 

 rocks under the point of Black Bluff". Many fine gray ones are among them. Six of 

 the single-branded pups are here. One has a raw wound, but seems not to be troubled 

 by it. The others are dry. One has a dry scab which is somewhat turned up at the 

 edges. If he went in the water it would probably peel off" and leave a raw place like 

 his neighbor's. It is probably the action of the salt water that keeps these wounds 

 looking raw and inflamed. 



Prom the rocky photographic station back of Kitovi Point I can count 26 of the 

 single branded pups. It was from under here that one of the pods was driven. They 

 all look well. 



In the Amphitheater of Kitovi, which is fully an eighth of a mile from where the 

 branding was done, and is cut off" from it by a projecting cliff", is one of the single- 

 branded pups. He lies beside the rock on which is the triple-branded pup. The 

 latter pup looks in bad shape, but it is plump and probably in no danger. He has 

 evidently decided to remain at home after this, as he has been in or near this position 

 for ten days. 



There are 2 old bulls swimming about in the water in front of the Amphitheater 

 among the cows and pups. The pups and bachelors show no fear of the bulls in the 

 water. 



From the brow of Lukanin Hill I can see the 8 pups which were scored so deeply 

 in the branding of the first day. There is a decided improvement in their condition. 

 Their wounds are all clean and much narrowed, showing progress in healing. They 

 are dry and have lost the raw appearance. No pus is visible. The pups have evidently 

 not been to the water for a few days. One of the worst looking pups is nursing its 

 mother. She is looking inquiringly at his back. There is no thought of abandonment 

 by the mother of the pup because of the brand. Every day one or more of the branded 

 pups are seen nursing. 



The dryness of the day has probably something to do with the appearance of 

 the pups. All pups look uncomfortable in the wet, the branded ones more so than 

 the others. 



From the cliff lower down I can see about a dozen of the branded pups near the 

 water's edge. They are all looking better, though many have sore backs. 



I notice a large number of old bulls lying on the rocks just back from the water's 

 edge on the beach at the foot of the cliff". There are 23 in sight where there could not 

 have been more than 3 or 4 yesterday morning, for the entire water front was then 

 examined with a glass for branded pups. 



Some of the pups are already very handsome in their gray coats. Occasionally 

 you see a little silvery yearling which is scarcely distinguishable from one of these pups. 



If the time of turning gray is uniform as to age of the pup, there must be a wide 

 variation in the birth of pups. About one third of the pups are fully gray; roughly 

 speaking, another third are turning, showing the gray on the belly and about the nose; 

 while another third are perfectly black. It is to be noted, however, that some of the 

 black pups are really the largest. 



Jacob Kochuten, who has been watching the past week at S. W. Bay, brings in 

 two spearheads attached to long lines which he found on the rookery there. One of 



