20 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 
In Part IL is given the minute and detailed journal of daily observations of the 
members of the commission. This record, being the chief basis for the conclusions 
in the general report, becomes a most important part of the work. To it is appended 
an abstract of the record in the log of St. Paul Island for the past twenty-seven 
years, in so far as it pertains to the life history, aud habits of the seals. 
The third division of the report contains the series of special papers and reports, 
already referred to, which deal with various phases of the life history, movements and 
the surroundings of the seals, and which have been prepared by different members 
of the commission and by various specialists. These take up in minute detail such 
phases of the subject as have important bearing on the fur-seal question. 
In Part IV are included the reports for the seasons of 1896 and 1897 by Dr. 
Stejneger on the Commander and Kuril islands, which form a continuation of his 
more extended investigations in the season of 1895, the results of which have already 
been published.* ‘To the reports on the Commander herd such reference as has been 
necessary to throw light upon the condition of the Pribilof herd have been made in 
the general discussion. 
ITINERARY, 1896. 
The United States Fish Commission steamer Albatross, with the American com. 
mission and Professor Thompson and Mr. Macoun, of the British commission, left 
Seattle on the morning of June 24, arriving at St. George Island, Bering Sea, on the 
afternoon of July 8. July 9,10, and 11 were spent in and about this island making 
general observations, photographing the rookeries, and counting the breeding seals. 
The time between July 12 and 18 was occupied in similar work on St. Paul Island. 
July 18 the Albatross steamed for Unalaska, leaving Mr. Townsend there and 
taking Dr. Stejneger to the Commander Islands. July 30 to August 9 were spent 
about these islands, August 22 to 26 about the Kurils, and August 28 to September 2 
about Robben Island, reaching Hakodate, Japan, September 10. 
On July 28 Mr. Lucas, Professor Thompson, and Colonel Murray visited St. George 
Island, the first two returning to St. Paul on August 5. Mr. Townsend returned from 
Unalaska August 8, and he and Mr. Lucas spent the time until the 12th at sea, on 
board the Rush, boarding vessels of the sealing fleet. 
August 8 to 14, inclusive, was occupied in counting dead pups on St. Paul. 
A similar count was made by Mr. Lucas and Mr. Macoun August 16 to 21 on St. 
George. 
On August 16 Professor Thompson and Dr. Jordan left St. Paul Island in H. M.S. 
Satellite for the Commander Islands, spending August 24 and 25 on the rookeries of 
these islands aud returning to St. Paul on September 1, bringing with them Mr. 
Barrett-Hamilton, another member of the British commission. 
Mr. Townsend left St. Paul on the company’s steamer Homer for San Francisco 
August 23, Colonel Murray returned from St. George September 1 and on the fol- 
lowing day made experiments in branding pups on Lukanin rookery. Messrs. Lucas 
and Barrett-Hamilton spent September 2 to 5 at sea on the Rush, among the pelagic 
sealers. 
*The Russian Fur Seal Islands, Stejneger; Bull. U. 8. Fish Com., 1896. 
