FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA, 1909. 
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were driven off. We found thereon 271 dead pups. Of these, 151 of 
the freshly dead plainly were starved. Of the remainder, the most 
were so rotten that, not only could no dissection be made, but it was 
impossible to tell in any way the cause of death. Of those freshly 
dead, 7 autopsies were made. Three of these plainly indicated 
starvation, the autopsies being made merely to verify that fact. 
Two dead pups were found with an abundance of subcutaneous fat 
and with stomachs full of milk. The flesh was anemic and pale. 
Areas of inflammation were found in the small intestines of each. 
These areas were dissected, but no worms were found there. In the 
appendix of one of these pups, however, and in the small intestine 
several inches from the appendix, a number of worms from one-half 
to 1 inch in length and of the thickness of a thin hair was found. 
These were preserved, together with the entire small intestine, for 
further study. Portions of the intestines of all pups dissected were 
preserved. One pup was found which, although emaciated in 
appearance, was found to have a small layer of subcutaneous fat. 
The feces in this case were dark but not tarry in the large intestine. 
Another dead pup was found with pale excrescent kidneys of very 
irregular form. Mr. Chichester believed the evidence in this case 
to point to fatty degeneration. The bowels and other organs of this 
animal were normal. 
All specimens of intestines and worms found upon this occasion 
were forwarded to the Bureau of Fisheries, but as yet no microscopic 
examination of them has been made. 
As the result of the examination of the Tolstoi sand flat, it was 
found that over half the dead pups plainly had died of starvation; 
that of the remainder, which included all the wholly rotten pups, 
only a few were found whose death could be ascribed to uncinaria. 
Whatever may have been the death rate from uncinaria in previous 
years, it is certain that its effect at the present time is almost 
nothing. 
EFFECT OF PELAGIC CATCH UPON LAND CATCH. 
The effect of the pelagic catch is supposed to be felt directly by 
the breeding herd. Pelagic catches are supposed to consist mainly 
of breeding females. If the pelagic catch is heavy fewer females 
are supposed to appear on the islands; if light, more females will be 
present. If more females appear, the births will be increased and more 
bachelors be present two years later as 2-year-olds. As the lessee’s 
catch, except for the years 1904-1908, has been composed mainly of 
2-year-olds, it would be supposed that the effect of a heavy sea 
catch would be felt two years later in a decreased catch of bachelors 
on land. 
