88 INVESTIGATION OF THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 



Lagoon rookery (July 12, 1913). — To this we add the statement that 

 Lagoon rookery, right across the Village Cove, and between the lagoon 

 and the sea, has practically disappeared. There were only two harems 

 full, and three ragged ones, or S bulls and 250 cows on its entire extent, 

 July 12, 1913. No young male seals in sight in the rear or on the 

 surf margin, and its condition "just a.s it was last year," according to 

 the natives. 



On Reef and Garbotch rookeries. — Season of 1890 there were 4,500 

 bulls, 225,000 cows, 203,000 pups; season of 1874 there were 13,000 

 bulls, 484,000 cows, 435,000 pups. 



On Lagoon rookery. — Season of 1890 there were 100 bulls, 4,500 

 cows, 4,000 pups; season of 1874 there were 580 bulls, 18,000 cows, 

 16,250 pups. 



CENSUS OF LAGOOX ROOKERY. 



[Field notes to accompany the chart and survey of conditions of Lagoon rookery, St. Paul Island, Pribilov 

 group, Saturday, July 12, 1913, by Henry W. Elliott and A. F. Gallagher, special agents, House Com- 

 mittee on Expenditures In the Department of Commerce. ] 



(The condition of the rookery, when comparison is made with that 

 of 1890. is founded upon the published and official survev made by 

 Henry W. Elliott and Charles' J. Goff, July 10, 1890, and" duly pub- 

 lished as House Document 175, Fiftv-fourth Congress, first session, 

 pages 31, 32, 33.) 



We find that the area occupied in 1890 has been diminished to a 

 fringe of seven harems just above the surf wash with 8 bulls and 

 about 250 cows. There are no polsecatchie in the rear, or visible in 

 the sea, and no idle bulls as we start in, not one in sight to the finish 

 of our survey. 



This enumeration of S bulls to 250 cows is very misleading as to 



*/ CD 



the actual service rendered, and indeed for that matter the relation 

 of these bulls to the cows is very hard to express in general figures 

 like the above. 



Here in fact are only four harems — one has over 100 cows, another 

 80 cows, the third 60 cows, and the fourth has 8 cows, with 2 bulls 

 each having only 1 cow. 



There are only 6 bulls out of the 8, with any show of service 

 demanded, yet in fact three of those old bulls are simply overworked, 

 and the service which should be distributed is not so made. This 

 average of service rendered is about the same all over the rookeries 

 to-day, and is entirely out of the normal and proper distribution of 

 it as it was in 1874, and should be now. 



To recapitulate. — For Lagoon rookery, July 12, 1913, we find 8 

 bulls, 250 cows, 250 pups. Season of 1890, 100 bulls, 4,500 cows, 

 4,200 pups; season of 1874 580 bulls, 18,000 cows, 17,250 pups. 



