498 THE KUR SEALS OF THE PEIBILOP ISLANDS. 



Ouly one or two sea lions were seen about the rookeries of these animals. 



Colonel Murray and Mr. Hamilton report tlie number of bulls on the sand beach 

 below Gross Hill to be about 1,800. Only 50 of the 430 starving pups were counted 

 for Hutchinson Hill. This is far too low, but it is impossible on wide spaces of rookery 

 ground to make the seals go slowly enough to make a full count of the starving. The 

 chief value of this count will lie in the fact that it is under, not over, the facts and 

 can not be disputed. 



LITTLE POLOVINA. 



The work at Northeast Point was finished at 2.30, and we immediately started for 

 Polovina. Little Polovina was counted first, and 119 pups found. Twenty-two 

 starving pups were noticed by Colonel Murray and Mr. Hamilton. 



Another of the paralyzed cows was found on this rookery. She lay quivering, 

 rolling her eyes and frothing at the mouth. Poked and rolled over, she made no 

 effort at resistance or escape. In half an hour she was gone. The pups and cows 

 were lying far back from tTie rookery proper on the flat. Tiie number of cows out on 

 the rookeries at this particular time is very great. All the rookeries are alike in this 

 respect and the cows on all show a uniform disposition to stay on land at any hazard. 



Under the cliffs of Polovina 180 dead pups and 12 starving ones were counted. 



POLOVINA. 



On the main rookery 1,375 dead pups were counted and 43 starving ones. A 

 number of pups dropped over a steep cliff and 4 were stuuned and apparently killed 

 on the rocks below. All but one, however, recovered in five minutes suflQciently to 

 make their way slowly into the water. One was so badly injured that he was killed. 

 His stomach was found to contain milk only. 



The natives show an exasperating stupidity in their actions when dealing with 

 the seals. They will follow them right out to the edge of the cliff", with a view to 

 turning them back, and make them all go over. They do not seem to have any horse 

 sense. You can't make them understand by calling unless you talk through the 

 chief. They stand and stare or else keep right on till the mischief is done. 



THE AERIVAL OP THE BEAR. 



On returning from Northeast Point the Bear was discovered steaming over from 

 St. George. This is the first vessel we have seen since the Bush left on September 8. 

 On going aboard in the evening it was found that for some .reason the Grant and all 

 the rest of the fleet had pulled out of the sea ou September 20. Captain Tuttle had 

 instructions simply to take us off' wlien ready and land us at Unalaska. But there is 

 no vessel leaving Unalaska, and our ouly chunce to get away will be to wait till the 

 Bear goes down on the 2oth of October. We may as well remain on the islands, 

 where we can continue to make observations. 



Captain Tuttle lauded a boat's crew under charge of a lieutenant and is to leave 

 another on St. George. He wished to sail for St. George at midnight, but kindly 

 consented to wait until to morrow noon for us to finish the count on Lukanin and 

 Kitovi, taking us with him to make the count on St. George. 



