THE WEIGHT OF SKINS. 



545 



JULY 4. 



Mr. Ghichester and myself walked to Tolstoi to get a photograph of the sand flat. 

 Mr. Lucas and Mr. Stanley Brown accompanied us. ' 



The mass on the eastern end of the sand flat has increased in size and is solid jip 

 to the foot of the slope. The harems on the slope have all increased in size and are 

 now practically continuous, extending nearly to the top There is thus a continuous 

 highway from the water's edge to the top of the rocky slope. At the extreme western 

 end of the sand flat another mass of cows is projected across, and many harems are 

 formed on the rocky slope at that point. The rest of the flat is still vacant. The same 

 turmoil and fighting goes on in the massed portion. 



On the way home a count of the cows in Lukanin rookery was made. There were 

 1,088 to-day. The Amphitheater has 414. 



One of the branded cows with a pup is located under the cliff at Lukanin rookery, 

 opposite where she was seen on one occasion after the branding last fall. The brand 

 is very plain, extending fully across the back and certainly spoiling the skin. There 

 has been no replacement of fur on the branded part. The cow was also seen by Mr. 

 Lucas. There were but 2 cows branded on St. Paul. The date of the branding 

 was September 2. 



A case of cow stealing was witnessed where the trespassing bull entered the 

 harem before its owner's eyes and carried off the cow. It took some seconds for the 

 bull being robbed to take in the situation, but when he did he lost no time in attacking 

 the thief, getting him by the foreflipper and shaking him vigorously. lu the struggle 

 the cow escaped back to her harem, and all that the thief had for his pains was an 

 ugly cut. 



Two dead pups, evidently trampled, were seen on Lukanin. There are not and 

 have not been any bachelors out on Kitovi rookery this season. 



The increase still goes on in the counted rookery portions. Some departures, 

 however, must occur. Mr. Lucas reports several on Gorbatch this morning. 



MR. LUCAS'S NOTES. 



The seals have greatly increased on Tolstoi sand flat since the 2d. They now 

 extend in an unbroken band from the water to the angle, while there are many more 

 harems on the slope. 



A bull located in the slide which forms the western approach to the cinder slope 

 on Gorbatch has 50 cows in his harem. This is a good- illustration of the advantage 

 of location. 



JULY 5. 



A killing was made this morning from Eeef and Zoltoi; 703 seals were killed and 

 229 large and 175 small were turned away. In company with Mr. Stanley-Brown, I 

 weighed 163 individual skins, taking them as they came on the field, with the following 

 results : 



Skins over 5 and under 6 pounds 35 



Skins over 6 and under 7 pounds 59 



Skins over 7 and under 8 pounds 29 



Skins overs and under 9 pounds 20 



Skins over 9 and under 10 pounds 7 



Skins oyer 10 and under 11 pounds 9 



Skins over 11 and under 12 pounds 3 



Skins over 12 and under 13 pounds 1 



Total 163 



