APPENDIX - TABLE 9. (continued) 
MAMMALS 
Meadow vole - Microtus abbreviatus: 
Evidence of previous abundance of the meadow vole, in the form 
of abandoned runways, was common throughout the island. The 1957 
population was very low; over a hundred trap nights of effort failed 
to secure a specimen. A few fresh runways were seen at the north end 
of St. Matthew Island and on Hall Island. Reports by other observers 
indicate that the vole population is subject to extreme fluctuations. 
Hanna commented on the low numbers of voles in 1916 and Beals and 
Rausch reported population highs in 1944 and 1954, 
Arctic fox - Alopex lagopus: 
Foxes were abundant on the island in 1957. Rausch reported them 
to be uncommon in 1955 while Beals, in 1944, listed them as common 
but not abundant. Hanna's 1916 observations mentioned fox, or evi- 
dence of them, present at every landing they made. Two skulls and 
one skin collected during 1957 have been deposited in the University 
of Alaska collection. 
Polar bear - Thalarctos maritimus: 
No recent evidence of polar bears was found. The old, well-worn 
polar bear trails mentioned by early observers were still plainly 
visible on the tundra adjacent to the beaches. A few weather-eroded 
skulls were found throughout the island. Elliot (1880) landed on St. 
Matthew and Hall Island in 1874 and reported polar bears very common, 
estimating 250 to 300 present on the two islands. Hide hunting was 
common at this time and 16 bears were killed there as late as 1890 
(Beals, 1944). Elliot refers to a party of five Russians and seven 
Aleuts who passed the winter of 1810-11 on St. Matthew Island. Four 
of the Russians died of scurvy. Their object was polar bear hide 
hunting. During the visit of the Harriman Expedition in 1899 there 
was no evidence of polar bears being present on the island (Merriam, 
1901). 
Harbor seal - Phoca vitulina: 
Approximately 200 harbor seals were seen at various points around 
the island. The largest concentration was on an offshore rock five 
miles east of Sugarloaf Mountain. One harbor seal skull was collected 
and is in the University of Alaska collection. 
Sea lion - Eumetopias jubata: 
Three sea lion carcasses were found on the beaches at the north 
end of St. Matthew Island and a group of about 350 sea lions was seen 
at a rookery two miles south of Elephant Rock on Hall Island. 
bly 
