170 THE ASIATIC FUR-SEAL ISLANDS. 



occasionally a light drizzling rain. Having received the oral permission of Mr. 

 Grebnitski to go anywhere on the rookeries, I did not notify the kossak, who was at 

 his house half a mile away. 



I commenced to count the dead pups which I saw in the windrows around the 

 "sands," starting from the southwestern end, distinguishing between those which had 

 died within the last couple of weeks and those which were so utterly decayed as to 

 indicate death at a very early period, probably shortly after birth. In the windrow 

 around the "sands" I counted ■12.) comparatively fresh carcasses and 143 old ones; 

 total, 572. The former were rather large black pups, with a large proportion of gray 

 ones or gray in part. They showed every appearance of being starved to death. A 

 few dying gray pups, lean and helplessly crawling about on their bellies, were seen, 

 and only very few, scarcely more than half a dozen, perfectly fresh bodies. Two or 

 three skeletons, perfectly fiesh and pink, showed how the large gulls (Larus 

 glaucescejis) had disposed of some of the bodies, while the presence of a couple of 

 blue foxes accounts for the others. 



I have pointed out in my former reports that the foxes, so numerous on these 

 islands, are accountable for the disappearance of a great number of dead pups from 

 the beaches, and I may add here that our observations on the South Eookery make it 

 appear probable that the number of the recently born dead pups eaten and carried away 

 by the foxes is proportionately less than that of the starved pups, for several reasons: 

 First, at the time of the births of the pups there is enough oflfal left on the killing 

 grounds to make these more profitable to the foxes; second, the new-born dead pups 

 are lyiug among the seals, and it is as much as a fox's life is worth to venture in among 

 the harems. We saw repeatedly how the cows resented the intrusion of the foxes and 

 chased them off, and it was only by constant watching that the fox was enabled to 

 snatch a body away; and, thirdly, the young foxes were growing all the time, 

 requiring more and more food, iind finally themselves invading rookeries where there 

 would be no difiQculty in securing the starved pups later in the season. 



Having finished the count around the " sands," I proceeded to count the bodies 

 on and around the rocks at the water's edge and the higher portions of the " sands," 

 when I was stopped by a guard sent by the overseer, the kossak Selivanof, with an 

 order for me to leave the rookery on the pretense that " the wind was bad." In spite 

 of the absurdity of the excuse, as I was on the lee side of the few hundred seals on the 

 beach, I obeyed at once, having as a matter of necessity no other course open to me. 

 Selivanof was in the village, and by the time I could see him and remonstrate it would 

 be too late to begin the count again, as the steamer could not wait for me. The skins 

 being nearly all in, I returned, therefore, to the ship. 



Though consequently exact figures can not be furnished, it is nevertheless certain 

 that there has been in 1897 a considerable mortality among the pups on North Eookery, 

 Bering Island, due to starvation. 



