COUNTS OF DEAD PUPS. 585 



One pup anchored to a placenta among the rocks was released. A pup very 

 recently born and scarcely able to move about was seen, evidently deserted by its 

 mother, a thing not usual. In most cases it has been impossible to drive the mother 

 away from her newly born pup. 



On Ardiguen a young bull in A's place has a young cow. D is the first harem in 

 the slide which is occupied. There are 3 cows and 12 pups in it, and they have 

 evidently moved up out of the wet. E has 3 cows and several pups. Harems P and 

 G are wanting entirely. 



A count of Gorbatch gives 382 dead pups and 4 dead cows. That on Reef 642 

 pups and 42 cows. Of the cows dead on Gorbatch 3, and of the pups 223, are on the 

 rocky portion of the rookery to the north of the cinder slope. For this rookery last 

 year 712 dead pups were found, and for Eeef rookery 950. The falling oft' in numbers 

 is an added evidence of shrinkage in the number of animals. 



AUGUST 10. 



The day was spent in making preparations for departure. Various assignments 

 of work were made to the students left to assist with the branding and the herding of 

 the seals in the lagoon. Thfe work of branding was left in Colonel Murray's charge. 

 It was arranged that Mr. Lucas should remain to await the departure of the Del Norte. 



Arrangements were made for the removal of the dead pups on Lukanin and Kitovi 

 rookeries, so that a count of starved pups could be made in October. 



MK. LTTCAS'S NOTES. 



I examined 3 dead pups and 2 dead cows on Eeef rookery. This rookery is thin 

 compared with last year, and the freedom with which one can move about is noticeable. 

 Two-year-old cows are very numerous, and some regular harems are formed of them. 

 It seems likely that the gray-necked cows are the old ones, at least it is certain that 

 the few freshly dead cows we have been able to examine were old, large, and gray 

 necked. 



AUGUST IX. 



The Bush arrived this morning, and Dr. Jordan, Dr. Wood, and Mr. Clark 

 immediately sailed for Unalaska. 



MR. LUCAS'S NOTES. 



An old cow with a newly-born pup is held by a bull on Tolstoi. Both stand their 

 ground. Very few seals are on Tolstoi or Middle Hill, and still fewer of those present 

 are killables, showing that a clean sweep has been made of this class. Dissected 4 

 pups dead from Uncmaria, showing that the disease is still running. 



AUGUST 12. 



MK. LUCAS'S NOTES, 



The dead pups on Kitovi and Lukanin were piled up and counted tO'day. On 

 Kitovi there were 202 and on Lukanin 251. The Kitovi count is 75 more than tliat 

 made by Clark and Macoun, but in the eight days that have elapsed some deaths' 



1 See note of succeeding day as to freshly dead pups. 



