THE ROOKERIES IN 1897. 165 



then equally numerous. (See pi. 22, Russ. Fur Seal Isls., and the note referring to the 

 same in the list of illustrations, p. 138.) The conditions are, therefore, absolutely- 

 comparable. 



It was noted that the pups had already podded to some extent, but the season 

 was equally far advanced on July 15, 1895. 



Professor Thompson suggested that we make a rough estimate of the number of 

 females actually on the ground (agreeing, as he did, with me that a regular count 

 of this rookery is impracticable). We consequently counted independently a section 

 of the eastern base of the "sands," and both found it to contain about 600 females and 

 10 bulls. Professor Thompson's estimate that the total occupied area of the rookery 

 is fifteen times greater than that of the seals counted is possibly not very far from the 

 truth, the result being about 9,000 to 10,000 females then on the rookery, and about 

 150 bulls. 



We could not get close enough to the seals to ascertain whether there was any 

 great mortality among the new-born pups on the rookery ground proper. On the 

 western edge of the Ladiginski Peninsula we counted about 15 dead pups, most of 

 them with the hair already off. Mr. Barrett- Hamilton suggested that some of them 

 might have died in yesterday's drive (the first drive during the season), but the hair 

 on the best preserved pup was already quite loose, and we all agreed that it had been 

 dead for several days. 



We next went to Kishotclinaya, and found there a similar state of affairs. There 

 was not a seal above the steep bevel of the beach; not one on the upper, flat, shingly 

 portion which I have called the "parade." In 1895 the two lateral sections of this 

 rookery extended a considerable distance backward, leaving the middle section bare 

 to the bevel, but all the harems situated there had now disajipeared, and the number 

 of seals appeared nearly one-half less. In 1895 I had to keep well concealed behind 

 the large stone so as not to disturb the nearest harems, which were scarcely 10 yards 

 away. I'o-day Professor Thompson stood upright on the top of this rock without 

 the seals on the beach even noticing his presence. 



A cursory and rather superficial count of the females gave about 600 for the 

 northern and 700 for the southern section. Allowing 900 for the middle section, the 

 total was about 2,200 females, certainly a maximum estimate. 



During our visit three days later, July 16, 1897, there was no change in the 

 appearance of this part of the rookery (Kishotchnaya) except that there were but 

 very few seals in the water, and a correspondingly large number on shore. On 

 account of the unfavorable wind the guard whom the starshena sent with us would 

 not allow us to go as far as we ourselves deemed safe and prudent. Mr. Barrett- 

 Hamilton being very anxious to have a count of this rookery made as far as 

 l)racticable, I agreed to undertake it jointly with him, though protesting that the 

 conditions were such that not even an approximately accurate count could be made. 

 I willingly admit, however, that on account of the great reduction in the number of 

 t iie females since 1895, a count is somewhat more feasible now than then. For this 

 count I can claim no more accuracy than for a well-considered estimate based upon 

 my experience in actually counting and estimating the rookeries on the Pribilof 

 Islands, and it is of no value except as a check upon such an estimate. 



We divided the Kishotchnaya rookery into three sections, according to whether 

 the seals were lying outside the two rocky ledges or between them. We counted each 



