104 THE ASIATIC FUR-SEAL ISLANDS. 



This was also the opinion of everybody I spoke with. 



On August 1 and 2, 1895, Mr. Grebnitski and I visited the Karabelnoye rookery 

 on Copper Island, i. e., the eastern end of it, particularly the beach near the "Stolp" 

 and the first breeding ground. On the 1st of August we found " two dead pups, one 

 with the placental cord still attached, but too much decomposed to make an exami- 

 nation of the cause of death possible." 



The next day we visited the same place again : 



A few more dead pups were seen on the rookery this morning, all decomposed. They are easily 

 accounted for, and the native was undoubtedly correct who stated that he had observed that the great 

 number of sikatchi [remember, there were plenty of bulls on the Copper Island rookeries] caused so 

 much fighting among them that many pups which came in their way got trampled upon and killed. 

 The number, however, is plainly insigniiicant. 



On August 22, 1895, in company with the captain, Mr. Francis R. Pelly, and 

 several of the officers of H. B. M. S. Porpoise,! attended a large drive on the North 

 Eeef rookery, Bering Islaiid, the same of which I have given a description previously 

 in this report (pp. 74-75). In order to fully appreciate the account which is to follow, 

 it is necessary to remember that this great rookery covers a long rocky reef and that 

 low tide (the difference between high and low water being about 4^ feet) uncovers a 

 long stretch of rocky beach which forms the favorite roaming and playing ground for 

 the pups. (Compare photographs 196 with 226.) It should also be borne in mind 

 that, as I have stated previously, it was extreme low water at the time we went with 

 the natives on the rookery to take the drive. 



When all the animals had been driven off, I remained behind to investigate. On 

 the rookery ground I was startled by the great number of dead pups. I was wholly 

 unprepared for this, because at the great distance from which it had become necessary 

 to watch the rookeries here the small bodies of the dead seals have not been noticeable; 

 in fact, I do not see how in the binocle they could have been distinguished from 

 sleeping ones. 



Those lying in a windrow along the high water margin of the rookery were most 

 consiDicuous. These had evidently heen washed ashore. A good many of them were 

 in an advanced stage of putrefaction — some entirely flattened out and without hair. 

 But an equal proportion had evidently died more recently, being in good condition. 

 There was another class of pup carcasses, viz, those which were lying dead upon the 

 higher portion of the breeding ground, away back from the water's edge. These were 

 mostly all in good condition and appeared as if they had died within a few days. 



When the seals were driven off, as many pups as possible were allowed to escape 

 into the sea, and they availed themselves of the opportunity offered to go off in large 

 flocks. But there was a considerable number of pups staying behind singly, which 

 upon our approach made but feeble attempts at getting away. Evidently somethiiig 

 was the matter with them. Upon a closer examination they were found to be very 

 weak, and their thin, pinched appearance was at once noticeable. They were starving; 

 their shoulder blades and ribs and hips were sticking out in strong contrast to the 

 rounded and plump forms of those scampering off with the others. Upon handling 

 the carcasses, both in the windrow and on the higher ground, the same state of affairs 

 was apparent, viz, extreme leanness and emaciation. 



After the rookery had been completely cleared I took my notebook and, walking 

 along the beach (starting at the south end, west side), began to count the number of 



