STARVED PUPS AT NORTHEAST POINT. 497 



carcasses, with few exceptions, were seen by either Mr. Macoun or myself, and in most 

 cases by both. 



Mr. Macoun suggests that in his judgment not more that 20 per cent of the former 

 count of pups have disappeared. We will leave the matter open until the count is 

 complete, but so far as I can judge 20 per cent would be ample to cover the loss. 



SEPTEMBER 30. 



A start was made this morning at 6 o'clock for Northeast Point in two buckboards 

 to make the count of dead pups there. Although the ground in the village was pretty 

 well covered with snow, the day looked favorable, and fortunately the snow did not 

 extend above Polovina. If any snow fell at Northeast Point, it was very light. 



NORTHEAST POINT. 



We arrived at Northeast Point at 9 o'clock, and began counting on the east side 

 off Webster House. One hundred and forty dead pups were found on the first point 

 and the little beach beyond. Only 32 pups were found on Sea Lion Neck. There were 

 10 on the sands otf 'Walrus bight. Five hundred and forty-three were found in the 

 patch about the rock pile just past the bight. On the point where the sea-lion 

 rookery is located there were 225. From here to a line with the eastern angle of 

 Hutchinson Hill there were 1,441. On Hutchinson Hill, the beach below it, and to the 

 end at the sands west of Cross Hill were 1,872, the total for Northeast Point being 

 4,263. Four hundred and thirty starving pups were counted. There were 2,293 in 

 August. 



Doubtless Sea Lion Neck has lost more pups in proportion between the two counts 

 than any other rookery ground through the tremendous surf of the last few days, 

 which evidently washed across the Neck. 



Three pups were found imprisoned in a narrow fissure in the rocks. They were 

 noosed and drawn out with difficulty. One or two pups were injured, and possibly 

 others killed, by jumping from steep cliffs. The work of the present count is being 

 done with the utmost thoroughness, in the hope that it may never have to be done 

 again. It does the seals no good to be thus driven off, no matter how carefully the 

 work is done. 



PARALYZED ANIMALS. 



Several cows have been found during the work of counting which seem to be 

 paralyzed with fright. They lie on the rocks as if in a fit, their bodies twitching, 

 their eyes rolling, their necks stilf, and heads thrown far back. They are perfectly 

 helpless, and can not be induced to move. We have not been able to find them in 

 their places an hour or so afterwards, and it is probable that they recover. Two of 

 these cows were to-day seen on Northeast Point and others were seen on other 

 rookeries. 



A heavy surf was breaking on Northeast Point and the seals were very much 

 averse to going into it. They got out immediately and resumed their places. 



Everything was driven off" the slope of Hutchinson Hill and the count finished at 

 noon. Lunch was eaten on the top of the hill, and by the time it was over, about 

 fifteen minutes, hundreds of seals were back and the vanguard were at the highest 

 point on the hill. 



