THE ROOKERIES OF ST. GEORGE. 41 
hillslope toward the east. The surface of this little rookery is ragged and broken in 
the extreme, making it an ideal breeding ground. At its eastern end is the single 
hauling ground, reached through the open space that lies between this and. the 
narrow breeding ground which occupies the reef beyond. 
15. Zapadni Reef.—This rookery lies on a reef of bowlders similar to that occupied 
by Lagoon rookery. The harems are grouped in scattered patches along the narrow, 
rocky beach. At the end of the reef is a large hauling ground which is also more or 
less common to the younger bachelors from the three Zapadni rookeries. Here the 
sand beach of English Bay begins, which stretches around to Tolstoi rookery. 
These three breeding grounds were originally one, but the decrease of the herd 
has so separated them as to make it advisable to give them distinct names. Their 
combined herd is next in size to that of Reef Peninsula, having about 60,000 seals of 
all classes. 
At a considerable distance above Zapadni headland is an isolated hauling ground. 
for the older bachelors and half bulls, known as Southwest Point. A few still haul 
out there, and a hair-seal rookery is situated on an islet offshore. The place probably 
never contained a breeding rookery. 
16. Marunichen (personal name).—This is an abandoned rookery ground on North 
Shore. It was never an important rookery, and has long been deserted. The oldest 
inhabitant of the village of St. Paul simply remembers hearing it spoken of when he 
was a boy. No cause was assigned for its abandonment. . A herd of hair seals haul 
out in the neighborhood of this old rookery. 
THE ST. GEORGE ROOKERIES. 
The rookeries of St. George are five in number. They are smaller and less 
important than those of St. Paul, containing only about one-sixth of the total number 
of seals on the two islands. On account of the rugged character of the coast line of 
St. George its rookery space is limited and the conditions less varied. The harems lie 
chiefly along broken cliffs, on basaltic columns, and bowlder-strewn slopes. Four of 
the rookeries are grouped on the northern face of the island, while the fifth lies 
isolated on the southwestern corner. Beginning with this last rookery, the following 
is a brief account of the breeding grounds of St. George Island: 
1. Zapadni (westerly)—This rookery lies along the rocky beach of Zapadni Bay, 
ascending the slope of the long hill where the harems are lucated on flat benches of 
rock. <A part of the beach line lies at the foot of the cliff formed by the breaking off 
of the hill. In the rear of the lower or beach portion is the hauling ground of the 
rookery, reached by two breaks in the mass of breeding seals and extending inland 
some distance. 
2. Staraya Artel (old guild).—This is a very picturesque rookery, lying in a narrow 
belt along the steep slope of a hill which breaks off in an abrupt cliff on the seaward 
side. The beach at the foot of the rookery is a limited one, and the lower harems are 
situated on shelf-like, rocky projections which gradually shade into the even surface of 
the hill slope, on which the harems are closely massed. The hauling ground of the 
rookery lies in the hollow formed by the inward sweep of the hill. In the hollow is a 
small pond, once a lagoon, which the reef-like beach has cut off. Over this beach the 
bachelors haul out and lie on the bank of the pond. 
