266 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



of them being reduced in numbers by cats, and one of the largest, the Caracara (Poly- 

 borus lutosus) has been nearly exterminated by the guns of former goat herders. As 

 the island is at present uninhabited, the latter species of bird may reestablish itself. 



During the greater part of the year dense fogs prevail about the more elevated 

 parts of the island, which are in consequence rather fertile. Mr. W. E. Bryant, who 

 resided upon one of the northern plateaus of Guadalupe during part of the winter of 

 1886, experienced considerable rain and occasional frost. 



In May, after the subsidence of a northwest gale which had presvented our landing 

 from the schooner for three days, I found the weather very warm. So far as I am 

 aware no water is found upon the southern half of the island, the herds of goats rang- 

 ing chiefly over the plateaus of the northern part of the island wh^re there are a few 

 springs. The goats are said to number about 10,000 at present, and a resident of San 

 Diego is endeavoring to obtain a lease of the island for a goat ranch, the term of the 

 former lessee having expired some time ago. The goats are killed for their hides 

 chiefly, but small quantities of the flesh being saved. In dry seasons many of them 

 perish for lack of water. 



I left San Diego on the schooner Santa Barbara^ on May 14, 1892, reaching Gua- 

 dalupe Island on the 16th, the first landing being at the deserted settlement of North 

 Point. We at once commenced a thorough search of the shores with the dory, rowing 

 close under the cliff's, usually within a distance of 40 feet of the rocks, landing and 

 entering the caves and volcanic holes which could not be inspected from the boat. 

 By the 25th we had in this manner rowed almost entirely g.round the forty or more 

 miles of coast line, followed at a mile or two from the shore by the schooner, to which 

 we always returned at nightfall. The work was very laborious on account of the small 

 size of our party and the limited time at our disposal, while rough weather made many 

 of the landings dangerous in the extreme. We were most unfortunate in our equip- 

 ment. Our 12-ton schooner, the only vessel then available at San Diego, was incapa- 

 ble of carrying a suitable hunting boat, and the work of exploring the island, devolv- 

 ing upon Messrs. Anthony, Streator and the writer, was further hampered by the 

 added labor of standing regular watches with the captain and the cook in the care of 

 the vessel. To the drawbacks in the way of equipment and crew must be ascribed 

 our failure to secure a complete specimen of the rare Guadalupe seal. 



During the exploration of the island only 7 fur seals were seen — none of them on 

 land. I killed the only one which could be approached within shooting distance, but 

 it sank before it could be reached. 



The island was visited too early in the season to find seals on shore, the young 

 not being brought forth until June, but on the site of a former rookery near Jacks 

 Bay, on the west side of the island, 4 skulls were found which proved to belong to a 

 species of Arctocephalus, which has since been described as A. townsendi, Merriam. 

 The fur seals seen at Guadalupe were, with two exceptions, more than a mile off shore, 

 the others having been found close to the rocks. One which seemed to be a male 

 about 4 years old lay asleep with the flippers held out of the water in the manner 

 characteristic of the species. Owing to the swell and thumping of our dory on the 

 waves, it could not be approached near enough for an effective shot. Another, appar- 

 ently a female, raising its head near the boat, I killed instantly with the rifle. It 

 began sinking immediately.and disappeared before we could reach it with the gaff. 



'Party ou board, George M. Hunt, master j A. W. Anthonyj Charles Smith, C. P. Streator, and 

 C. H. Townsend. 



