324 THE FUli SEALS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



an error from tlie initial point, and the corrections are no correction at all, but must 

 necessarily be in error. I was asked quite frequently to locate different features on 

 or near the rookeries. I did it simply to satisfy the person making the request, but I 

 knew the location was an error. 



In a few words, then, I do not hesitate to say that it is impracticable to correct 

 the present rookery maps and hope to obtain thereby maps that are topographically 

 correct, because there is no absolute data from which to make the correction. If you 

 accept the Stanley-Brown data you accept his maps. The only remedy I see is to 

 make a new survey with the best means the Government has at hand. To do anything 

 else is simply to produce maps which have no greater value than those now in use. 

 The survey of the rookeries must be made by a skilled topographer, using the best 

 means that can be supplied. 



The Treasury Department, most interested in having correct maps, has fortunately 

 at hand in one of its bureaus the best means possible in the world of making such a 

 survey. I refer to the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey. This bureau has 

 two items in the appropriations, under either of which the work I think can be done. 

 The one, "Alaskan explorations," and the other " For objects not named that may be 

 deemed urgent." 



It will take a competent assistant with an aid and iive men equipped with the 

 best instruments at least one full year to make the rookery surveys on a scale of 

 1 : 2,500. A party leaving by the earliest steamer in spring and wintering on the 

 islands might finish to return by the following summer. Generally the breeding seals 

 lie from the base of the cliffs to a line reached by the spray of the heaviest seas, to the 

 high-water mark in fact, on a cliff or series of shelves projecting from the base of the 

 cliffs, and when a breach or gorge through the cliffs forms a valley the rookeries 

 extend partly up the valley. This shelf is narrow in places, wide in others, and still 

 in other locations it merges into the valleys. In some places the harems are three or 

 more deep, in others two, tapering to one, and then broken. In the valleys the gorges 

 may be six or seven or more harems deep. To map this shelf or shelves with all-the 

 ramifications into valleys and gorges and represent it so that it is intelligently 

 expressed to the nonexpert requires topography of the highest order. 



The rookery surveys to have exact value must be made during the season when 

 the seals are not occupying them. The rookery must be occupied by the topographer. 

 During the breeding season bases can be measured and the work carried on to the 

 edge of the rookeries. In my opinion it is not necessary to measure the base for 

 these rookeries. I believe that all the rookeries on the south side of St. Paul from 

 Polovina to Zapadni can be connected with one good base. 



I would again repeat the necessity of locating permanent marks for reference 

 points on a rookery for the purpose of accurately sketching the areas occupied by 

 breeding seals. These marks must be plainly visible, numbered or lettered, and in 

 considerable numbers. Without such reference points the most elaborate survey will 

 fail to meet the wants of the future fur-seal investigator. 



In closing this portion of my report I beg to say that it is my opinion, based on 

 twenty years' experience in surveying, that no party, however well equipped they may 

 be, can go to the Pribilof Islands during the summer season and either correct the 

 topography of the rookeries on existing maps or make new surveys of the rookery 

 areas that will fulfill the existing requirements. 



