COPPER ISLAND IN 1896. 



151 



A count of the pups was attempted, which gave about 328 pups on the rocks and 

 on the beach, while probably at least a hundred more were sporting in the water. In 

 all there were probably fully 450 pups, which leads me to the conclusion that the 

 condition of this breeding ground is not much worse than last year (1895), and also 

 that the five old bulls of last year, with at least 100 females each, did their duty nobly. 

 It would thus seem as if the conclusions which I was drawing last year and which I 

 proposed might be tested on south rookery during the present season were sound. 

 (See my Euss. Fur-seal Isls., p. 64.) 



Eeturned to the vessel about 5.30 p. m., and the Albatross was soon on her way 

 to Copper Island. 



Table of fur seals killed at south rookery, Bering Island, 1898. 



Copper Island. 



Chiefly on account of the intervening Sunday, which was spent at Preobraznen- 

 skoye village, we arrived at Karabelni village August 3, in the morning. Mr. 

 Wachsmuth kindly offered to accompany me to the rookery. The wind was southeast, 

 with fog and considerable rain, and the people ashore informed us that it was also 

 foggy and raining heavily on the west side of the island. There being consequently 

 no sense in crossing the mountains to the rookery under these conditions, we waited 

 on board until noon for better weather. In the meantime the wind was becoming 

 more easterly, the barometer was falling rapidly, and the surf on the beach increasing. 

 For that reason, seeing that it might become difficult to laud later and that it might 

 even be necessary for the Albatross to go to sea, Mr. Wachsmuth and I determined to 

 go ashore, and, taking bed clothes and provisions with us, we installed ourselves in the 

 Government house. 



The next morning, with a change in the wind to the nort^^hward, the rain ceased. 

 In spite of the fog, therefore, we made up our mind to visit the rookery, even though 

 photographing might be impracticable. As we left the village we saw the Albatross 

 get up steiam, and standing out to sea she was soon lost in the fog. 



Karabelnoyb Eookbry. 



We started out at 6.45 a. m. (August 4) and reached my photographic station No. 1 

 (Russ. Fur-seal Isls., pi. xii) at 8 a. m. The weather was favorable for viewing the 

 seal as it was cool, foggy, with an occasional drizzle, but for the same reason 

 exceedingly unfavorable for photographing and for comparing with last year when I 

 viewed the same rookery in bright sunshine. 



