ALASKA. 91 



the natives declare, has been slightly but steadily increasing. 

 The seals everywhere on the breeding-grounds will become 

 speedily habituated to close observation when it is quiet and 

 undemonstrative, and take little notice of the approach of the 

 observer. 



The seals will be found to change a little every year from 

 rookery to rookery, but the aggregate number will be steadily 

 about the same. The condition of the seal-life this season of 

 1874 compares very favorably with that of 1872, as will be seen 

 from extracts from my notes taken on the ground : 



" Northeast Point, July 18, 1874. 



" Quite a strip of ground near Webster's house has been 

 deserted this season, but a small expansion is observed on 

 Sea Lion Hill. The rest of the ground is as mapped in 18'72, 

 with no noteworthy increase in anj' direction. The condition of 

 the animals and their young, excellent ; small irregularities in 

 the massing of the families due to rain ; sea-lions about the 

 same ; none on the west shore of the point." 



"The aggregate of life on this great rookery is about the 

 same as in 1872, the ' holluschickie,' or killable seals, hauling as 

 well and as numerously as before. The proportions of the dif- 

 ferent ages among them, of two, three, and four year olds, pretty 

 well represented." 



" POLAVINA, Juhj 18, 1874. 



" Stands as it did in 1872 ; breeding and hauling grounds in 

 excellent condition; the latter, on Upper Polavina, are changing 

 down upon Polavina sand-beach, trending for three miles to- 

 ward Nor.theast Point. The numbers of the 'holluschickie' 

 on this ground of Polavina, where they have not been disturbed 

 now for some five years to mention in the way of taking, do 

 not seem to be any greater than they are on the hauling-grounds 

 adjacent to Northeast Point and the village, from which they 

 are driven almost every day during this season of killing." 

 " LxJKANNON AND Ketatie, July 19, 1874. 



''Not materially changed in any respect from its condition at 

 this time in 1872." 



" GoEBOTCH, July 19, 1874. 



" Just the same. Condition excellent." 



" Eeef, July 19, 1874. 



"A slight contraction on the south sea-margin of this ground, 

 compensated for by expansion under the bluffs on the north- 

 west side. Condition excellent." 



