CONDITION OF EOOKERIES IN 1896. 149 



In Bering Island the number of females in proportion to the mature males is 

 very much greater than on Copper Island. This results in an apparent deficiency 

 in bulls on Bering Island and a corresponding superabundance of them on Copper 

 Island. 



In Bering Island the killable males are of great size, as proven by the weight of 

 the skins, which in 1895 averaged over 10 ponnds. The greatest deficiency was 

 consequently in the younger seals, while yearlings were almost entirely abseut. The 

 proportion between the ages of the killables was quite reversed on Copper Island, 

 where a lack of the older bachelors was seriously felt, while the great bulk of the 

 vSkins taken were from the younger classes, the skins averaging probably less than 

 8 pounds. 



As tor the pups, it may be stated that they were abundant in proportion to the 

 females on both islands, and no difference could be discovered in that respect. On 

 Bering Island I found a considerable mortality due to starvation among the pups. 

 On Copper Island no such thing was observed, but this negative result must not be 

 taken as a proof or even an indication that no such mortality took place. It must be 

 remembered that most of the breeding-grounds on Copper Island are inaccessible, and 

 that it is almost an impossibility to distinguish the dead bodies of the pups from such 

 a distance as it is necessary to watch them on Copper Island. 



It was by the merest accident that I myself discovered the sad state of affairs 

 on Bering Island, for if I had not gone over the rookery after the wholesale drive of 

 the breeding-ground I should have remained in ignorance of the fact. The natives 

 themselves were either concealing it, out of fear that they would be blamed, or, more 

 likely, they were ignorant of the extent of the calamity. After the season is over the 

 natives keep aloof from the rookeries, as they are strictly enjoined from disturbing 

 the breeding-grounds without necessity. The simple fact, therefore, that I can report 

 no unusual mortality on the Glinka or Karabelni rookeries proves nothing one way or 

 the other. 



CONDITION OF THE FUE-SEAL EOOKERIES IN 1896. 



Commander Islands. 



The following report upon my tour of inspection of the Commander Islands fur- seal 

 rookeries has taken the form of a narration of the trip, being in fact mostly a transcript 

 of the daily notes made. 



The Albatross left Dutch Harbor, TJnalaska, July 23, in the evening, and came to 

 anchor off Preobrazhenskoye village. Copper Island, about 6.30 p. m., July 30. Being 

 informed by Mr. K. S. Wachsmuth, the new assistant administrator in charge of the 

 island, that Mr. Grebnitski, who alone could give permission to inspect and photograph 

 the rookeries, was at the time at Mkolski, Bering Island, we proceeded to the latter 

 place at 10 p. m., after having made a call ashore. 



Mr. Nikolai Sergeivich Wachsmuth, formerly an army ofilcer, but now in the civil 

 service of his Government, is a young man and seems to have taken hold of his position 

 with energy and enthusiasm. To this is unquestionably due the increased number of 

 bachelors taken this year thus far on Copper Island, as compared with 1895, for the 

 rookeries have been scanned much closer and scraped much cleaner than during any 

 previous year. Means for taking seals at places where the natives never dreamed of 



