150 THE ASIATIC FUB-SEAL ISLANDS. 



killing bachelors, such as boats and ropes, have been devised, and Mr. Wachsmuth 

 himself would get up the first man in the morning and call the men together for the 

 drives. 



The Albatross arrived off Mkolski the next day about 1 o'clock p. m., and Mr. 

 Grebnitski came at once on board, extending a cordial welcome to us, and gave without 

 reserve the fullest permission to inspect and photograph the rookeries. He even 

 intimated that he might accompany us, and arrangements were consequently made for 

 an early start next morning for South Eookery, where the landing was presumed to be 

 good. 



"We were informed that Mr. Barrett-Hamilton, the British agent, had arrived on 

 July 19 on board H. B. M. S. Spartan and that he was at present on North Eookery. 



The news as to the condition of the sealing business was not encouraging. Bulls 

 are still scarce, bachelors even more so, as up to July 25 only 2,354 skins had been 

 taken. Nor are the skins quite as heavy as last year, the average weight being about 

 9 pounds; comparatively few 7 pounds, and yearlings nearly as scarce as last year. 

 Females and pups, according to the tables, are driven as much or more than ever. 



South Rookery, Bbking Island. 



Press of official business preventing Mr. Grebnitski from accompanying us the 

 next morning, August 1, we steamed away to south rookery, but on account of the 

 fog did not get there until 2 o'clock p. m. 



Making a landing in the flatboat, accompanied by two sailors, I was received by 

 Laurenti Ivanof, the new starshena of the place, who informed me that up to date 

 only 223 skins had been taken, and that the number of old bulls on the rookery had 

 not exceeded six. 



Proceeding at once to photographic station No. 1, duplicated last year's exposure 

 (pi. 11). 



The day was warm,' consequently nearly all the females were in the water, a large 

 bunch of them sleeping and playing a little distance off the rookery, while quite a 

 number of paps were also amusing themselves in the shallow water between the rocks. 

 Quite a number were sitting on the latter and only a small proportion on the beach 

 itself. A single bull was seen lying on one of the inner rocks ; no bachelors could be 

 distinguished. 



The seals were this year lying farther east than last year, as shown on the map., 

 I mounted the published map of last year (Euss. Pur-seal Isls., pi. 10) on the plane 

 table and placed the latter ou the bluff just back of the rookery at the point desig- 

 nated on the map accompanying this report (pl. 103) as station 4, the point being 

 located by cuts from various points. As it was extreme low water, the reefs extended 

 farther and more rocks were out of the water, features which have been added on the 

 new map. The location of the seals was also fixed by cuts. The map, although only 

 a hasty sketch, proved quite satisfactory. 



I also duplicated my photograph of last year from station 3 (pi. 10). 



' The tliermometer ou board the Albatross registered as follows : 



3 p. m., air, + 54" F. ; water, -f 48° F. 



4 p. m., air, + 56° F. ; water, -f 48° F. 



5 p. m,, air, + 55° F. ; water, -f- 54° F. 



