THE EOOKEKIES IN 1897. 163 



Palata driveway: The drive from Palata is now rarely made, as the seals have 

 grown so few. They are killed all along the beach, and the myriads of flies about 

 the decaying carcasses mast be the source of great annoyance to breeding seals. 



The drive ascends from the parade ground on the top of the landslide. This was 

 formerly occupied by bachelors. But there are no separate droves of bachelors now. 

 They are scattered in little clumps about and between the rookeries. 



The drive then for about 1 00 feet ascends a grassy cliff so steep that steps have 

 been dug in it to facilitate climbing. Then follows some 700 feet of irregular but 

 very steep slope, in which the easiest depressions are sought, though the hill is 

 everywhere about as steep as a man can climb, and one who goes up it must cling to 

 the grass. Above this slope the drive reaches the back of the knife-like ridge that 

 separates Palata from Zapalata. This widens out into an easy level plateau for about 

 20 rods, marked with road skeletons. The elevation is 850 feet by Dr. Stejneger's map. 



Then follows a steep climb up gravel and clay, with scanty grass and heather, 

 worn into steps, the driveway bounded on the southwest by a slanting precipice that 

 lies above Sabatcha Dira. A steep shoulder of heather and small plants is followed 

 by a final climb into the clouds to the summit of the pass, 1,220 feet above the sea. 



From the summit an abrupt descent leads down a distance of 500 feet by a zigzag 

 trail as steep as a horse could pass over, strewn with gravel and covered with low 

 flowers, to the bed of a swift little brook. This stream flows down into a grassy basin, 

 the slope becoming less and less, the rye grass and putchki growing taller. At the 

 junction of this stream flowing into the little brook to the west this drive merges into 

 the one from Zapadni. 



The drive from Palata is not in any place so difficult as the gully just above 

 Zapadni, but it is half higher and twice as long — a trip one could not take on 

 horseback, nor would it be easy to lead a horse over it. Comparing it with conditions 

 ou St. Paul, the Palata Pass is as steep as the coue of Bogoslof, twice as high, and is 

 without water. Compared with the severest drive on St. Paul, it would stand as the 

 ascent of Mount Blanc to a walk in the park. It is a very fatiguing trip for a man. 

 It took me, walking rapidly, thirty-eight minutes (deducting stops) from Palata to the 

 grassy level, 860 feet; thence twenty-eight minutes to the top, 1,220; fifteen minutes 

 down the upper slope, and fifteen more to Glinka. 



CONDITION OF THE COMMANDER ISLANDS FUR-SEAL ROOKERIES IN 1897. 



The inspection of the Commander Islands rookeries during 1897 was beset by many 

 diflSculties and was at times not devoid of danger, chiefly on account of the lack of 

 proper means of transportation. It is greatly to be regretted that no vessel could 

 have been spared from the United States Eevenue Service or Navy to stay about the 

 islands during the sealing season. Much more work could then have been accom- 

 plished and much valuable time have been saved, which was now lost in waiting for 

 the uncertain visits of the foreign men-of-war or the company's steamer. It must be 

 remembered that the coasts of these island have no harbors, that the weather is 

 usually stormy and foggy, that the rookeries are situated 12 to 20 miles away from the 

 villages, and that landing at these places is often impossible or dangerous for weeks 

 at a. time. Thus the steamer KotiJc this year was forced to return to Petropaulski 

 without having been able to land boats at the rookeries of Glinka and Karabelni, on 

 Copper Island, although she was more than three weeks attempting the feat. 



