INVESTIGATION OF THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 81 



massing of breeding seals approximately 6,500 cows and about 125 

 bulls, with 10 "idle" bulls in the rear, but no "polsecatchie" about. 



The survey of jag 3 of 1890— that is, the life line of the survey 

 of jag 3 of 1890 to-day — is now represented by a fringe of harems at 

 the surf margin, consisting of 24 or 25 harems and about 400 cows; 

 no idle bulls. 



We find also a large gathering of sea lions, bulls, and cows just 

 below the breeding seals at the surf margin on the rocks, there being 

 not less than 300 or 400 of them. 



Proceeding to station O, we find about 32 bulls and 600 cows. 

 From O to P we find about 32 bulls and about 600 cows. At the 

 foot of station P there are about 14 bulls and about 250 cows, with 

 two idle 6-year-old bulls in the rear, but no polsecatchie. 



As we proceed from P to Q, we find 15 bulls and about 400 cows. 

 That closes the life, which abruptly ends at station Q. 



Beyond, as we progress to station R, we find 10 bulls (6 of which 

 are idle), and four harems at the northwest shoulder of station R, 

 containing about 50 cows; the entire fife of 1890 being reduced to 

 that! On the reef at the foot of this northwest shoulder are three or 

 four hundred holluschickie playing on the rocks, with a few sea lions. 



It may be said here, in review, that the sea lions that we have 

 seen at the foot of the station that we have just left undoubtedly 

 belong to the rookery at Northeast Point, and the aggregate num- 

 ber of them that we have had in view clearly proves that the sea- 

 lion life of to-day is quite up to the record of 1890. 



We now proceed from station R to station S on the northwest 

 shoulder, and we find a series of pocket harems at the surf wash, 

 consisting of two bulls, with about 140 cows, and 6 bulls with about 

 250 cows, plus one bull with three cows, in the pocket right at the 

 extreme point of the northwest shoulder, together with one injured 

 or crippled bull. 



From station S we proceed to station T, where we find 5 bulls and 

 about 60 cows under the last-named station. 



We now sweep around to stations U and V, and enumerate as 

 follows: Seven bulls plus 2 bulls and about 300 cows, plus 10 bulls 

 and 350 cows, with 2 polsecatchie swimming at the water's edge 

 (the first we have seen this morning), plus about 25 bulls and over 

 1,500 cows, with one 6-year-old bull in the rear, plus 4 bulls and 65 

 cows, plus 3 bulls and about 50 cov/s, and plus 5 bulls and about 

 250 cows. 



Between station V and station W nothing appears in sight. At 

 stations U, V, W, and X there is a complete abandonment of all 

 that ground by the seal life; not a single seal on the rocks or on the 

 hauling grounds or in sight! From station X to the middle shoulder 



amphibians, is again before me to-day, with not a single herd of seals upon it— actually green with upspring- 

 in; grass and colored and flecked with varied flowers." (P. 47, H. Doc. No. 175, 54th Cong., 1st sess.) 



"The sound which arose in 1372 from these great breeding herds of the fur seal when thousands upon 

 tens of thousands of active, angry, and vigilant bulls were roaring, chuckling, piping, and multitudes of 

 se" 1 mothers were calling in hollow bleating tones to their young, that in turn responded incessantly, is 

 simple defiance to verbal description. It was at a slight distance softened into a deep booming as of a 

 cataract. * * * Night and day throughout the season of 1872 this din upon the rookeries was steady 

 and constant." (Pp. 41-42.) 



"I have heard it with a light, fair wind as far as 6 miles out from land in the sea. And even in the thunder 

 of the surf and roar of heavy gales it would ri;e up and over all to your ear quite a considerable distance 

 away. It was the monitor for which the sea captains anxiously strained tlieir ears when they had run 

 their 'dead reckoning' up and were 'laying to' in the fog-, waiting for it to rise so they could get their bear- 

 ings on the land." (Elliott, Mono. Seal Islands, 1372-1874.; 



53490—14 6 



