136 THE ASIATIC FUE-SEAL ISLANDS. 



of making an actual count over a sufficiently large area to insure a reliable average. 

 The rookeries are so very different among themselves that it would be necessary to 

 have a separate count of each of them. 



COMPARISON BETWEEN THE CONDITION OF THE EOOKBEIES IN 1882-83 AND 1895. 



Bering Island. 

 NOETH EOOKEET, 1882-83. (Plate M.) 



When I first visited the northern rookery, thirteen years ago, there were three 

 distinct breeding areas, viz, the Eeef and Sivutchi Kamea, counted as one; a smaller 

 patch between Babin and the creek, and Kishotchnaya. The bachelors hauled out 

 on many of the outlying rocks surrounding the reef, and also in the rear of it on the 

 smooth, white parade-ground. A large patch of them occupied the space back of the 

 breeding-ground at Babin, large numbers extending a considerable distance back on 

 the grassy area later in the season. Between the creek and Kishotchnaya there were 

 three patches of bachelors. The whole distance from Sivutchi Kamen to Blizhni Mys, 

 therefore, was practically one continuous seal-ground. The breeding grounds at 

 Kishotchnaya were surrounded by a heavy fringe of bachelors, who also sported in 

 great numbers on the smooth, gravelly space in the rear of the rookery. South of 

 Kishotchnaya, between the latter and Maroshnik, were again two separate patches 

 of bachelors. In 1883 for the first time bachelors were known to haul out regularly 

 throughout the season on the beach called Tizikof, beyond Maroshnik. They used 

 to haul out there— and even as far south as Foutanka — late in the season, but their 

 permanent settling on the beach in question was then regarded as an indisputable 

 proof that the rookeries were increasing. It was at this last-mentioned point that the 

 Otome, an English schooner, with a Japanese crew, made a raid during a dark night in 

 August, 1883, and killed 300 to 400 seals. The mate was captured by the natives and 

 the schooner the next morning by Mr. Grebnitski, onboard the steamer Aleksander II. 



The rookeries were in excellent condition, both as to quantity and quality. All 

 classes of seals were well represented, and only skins of standard size were taken. 

 This was particularly the case in 1883, when the company's representatives had very 

 strict orders not to accept a single skin under 8 pounds. During that year 50 per cent 

 more skins could easily have been taken, but for business reasons the company wished 

 to reduce the catch as much as possible, and it was only after some strong pressure 

 was brought upon Captain Sandman by Mr. Grebnitski that he agreed to take as 

 many as he did. 



It is a fact well worth mentioning that even in those days females and pups got 

 unavoidably mixed up in the drives. The percentage was not very great, but great 

 enough to be a distinct feature of the drives on this island. However, as the drive 

 progressed they were pretty successfully weeded out, and comparatively few reached 

 the killing grounds. Killable seals being plentiful, pods of females were allowed to 

 escape along the route of the drive, even though they might include a few bachelors. 



NOETH EOOKEEY, 1895. (Plate 95.) 



Upon inspecting the north rookery again last summer I found a great change in 

 many respects. Before reaching the rookery itself the absence of fresh or decaying 

 carcasses on the killing grounds was in marked contrast to the noisome sight and 



