@prefix ns0: . @prefix edm: . @prefix dcterms: . @prefix dc: . @prefix skos: . ns0:identifierAIP "221439f8-4f73-4299-a3a4-072f44152615"@en ; edm:dataProvider "CONTENTdm"@en ; dcterms:isReferencedBy "http://resolve.library.ubc.ca/cgi-bin/catsearch?bid=700239"@en ; dcterms:isPartOf "British Columbia Historical Books Collection"@en, "Reports of agents, officers, and persons, acting under the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury, in relation to the condition of seal life on the rookeries of the Pribilof Islands, and to pelagic sealing in Bering Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, in the years 1893-1895. In two parts"@en ; dcterms:creator "United States. Department of the Treasury"@en ; dcterms:issued "2015-05-27"@en, "1896"@en ; dcterms:description "\"Includes details of the value of the seal catches made by Victoria-based schooners.\" -- Lowther, B. J., & Laing, M. (1968). A bibliography of British Columbia: Laying the foundations, 1849-1899. Victoria, BC: University of Victoria, p. 137.

\"54th Congress, 1st Session. Senate. Document 137, Part 2. [...] With maps and illustrations. Results of investigations under the direction of the U.S. Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries.\" -- Title page."@en, ""@en ; edm:aggregatedCHO "https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcbooks/items/1.0222554/source.json"@en ; dcterms:extent "154 pages : photographs, tables, illustration, maps (folded), diagrams (folded) ; 24 cm"@en ; dc:format "application/pdf"@en ; skos:note """ 54th Congress, 1st Session. SENATE. Document 137, Part 2. REPORTS OF AGENTS, OFFICERS, AND PERSONS, ACTING UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY, IN RELATION TO THE CONDITION OF SEAL LIFE ON THE ROOKERIES OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS, AND TO PELAGIC SEALING IN BERING SEA AND THE NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN, IN THE YEARS 1893-1895. In Two Parts. Part II. ["With maps and illustrations. Results of investigations under the direction of the U. S. Commissioner of Eish and Fisheries.] WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 1896. CONDITION OF SEAL LIFE ON THE ROOKERIES OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS, 1893-1895. | By C. H. Townsend. THE ROOKERIES IN 1893. LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. Washington, D. 0., February 26,1894. Sir : I have the honor to inform you that during the summer of 1893 an inquiry was conducted on the Pribilof Islands by the United States Fish Commission, in compliance with the following clause contained in the sundry civil appropriation bill for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1894, namely: And the Commissioner of Fisheries is authorized and required to investigate, under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, and when so directed to report annually to him regarding the condition of seal life upon the rookeries of the Pribilof Islands. The report upon this investigation by the naturalist of the Fish Commission steamer Albatross, Mr. C. H. Townsend, by whom it was conducted, is herewith respectfully transmitted, in accordance with your direction. Yery respectfully, M. McDonald, Commissioner. Hon. John G. Carlisle, Secretary of the Treasury, Washington, D. C. INTRODUCTION. The report herewith submitted is based chiefly upon the observations made on St. Paul and St. George islands between July 11 and August 18, 1893, in conformity with the instructions issued for my guidance, and with the object of determining the conditions of seal life upon the rookeries of the Pribilof Islands during that period, as compared with the corresponding period of the previous year. It is accompanied by 11 charts and 4G photographic views (105 plates),1 corresponding mainly with those made in 1892 by Mr. J. Stanley-Brown, special Treasury agent, and forming part of his report to the Secretary of the Treasury. Views were obtained from all of the photographic stations occupied by Mr. Stanley-Brown, but as the photographer of the Fish Commission iThis set of charts and photographs not transmitted for publication, the accompanying series for 1895, showing more reduced condition of rookeries, being deemed sufficient. 3 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS, steamer Albatross likewise secured several excellent negatives ol some of the rookeries from other good positions in 1892, I considered it important to duplicate them also, and prints from these negatives of both years have been included among the photographs transmitted. From the appended catalogue of photographs, giving the dates upon which t]ue negatives were made in each year, it will be seen that, with one exception, corresponding negatives were taken on the same or very nearly the same date, foggy weather sometimes interfering with the work, but not sufficiently to allow of any material change in the condition of the rookeries. The exception was at Northeast Point rookery, on St. Paul Island, which the writer was unable to reach until the seals had spread slightly. The difference in perspective observable in the photographs of the two years is owing to the fact that the photographic lens used in 1893 had a somewhat different angle from the one employed by Mr. J. Stanley-Brown. In comparing the corresponding photographs for the two years, it will be observed that only a few of them show any appreciable differences in the abundance of the seals upon the rookeries to which they relate; but my personal observations clearly demonstrate that a moderate decrease in the number of seals and slight changes in their distribution did occur between the summer of 1892 and that of 1893>as described below, these facts being also more plainly brought out by a comparison of the charts. In this connection, it seems proper to explain that my acquaintance with the seal rookeries of the Pribilof Islands has not been limited to the investigation of last summer. I first visited these islands during June and September, 1885, at which time the rookeries were in their prime, pelagic sealing, just then beginning, having produced scarcely any effect upon the islands. Compared with the vast herds then observed, the body of seals now on the rookeries appears as a mere remnant. As the naturalist ol the steamer Albatross, I also made observations on these islands from July 28 to August 10,1891, and again between June 30 and August 14,1892, during a part of this latter period having been temporarily attached to the revenue-steamer Cor win, then engaged in following the breeding female seals out to their feeding grounds, on which, up to distances of 200 miles from the islands, specimens obtained by means of firearms were found to be in milk and to have undigested food in their stomachs. Recognizing the importance of designating the photographic stations previously referred to, so that they may be found without delay in future years, I have marked many of those located near peimanent rocks or bowlders with their numbers in white lead, and I would respectfully suggest that this Work be completed next season. The rookeries at which the stations have been so designated are Great East, Little East, North and Starry Arteel, on St. George Island; and Reef and Zapadnie, on St. Paul Island. ITINERARY FOR THE SEASON. Accompanied by Mr. N. B. Miller,, photographic assistant, I was landed on St. George Island by the steamer Albatross on the morning of July 11, and remained there until the 15th. Zapadnie rookery was photographed on the 13th; North rookery in the morning and Starry Arteel rookery in the afternoon of the 14th; the East and Little East rookeries during the morning of the 15th. The areas covered by the seals at each of these rookeries were plotted upon the charts on the same dates. "^MB^ij^V^t&SgyVjY SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 5 We took up our quarters on St. Paul Island on July 16, and on the 17th attempted to photograph the rookery at Northeast Point, but a dense log prevented. Later in the day, however, we succeeded in photographing Ketavie and Lukannon rookeries. During the 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st, work was entirely interrupted by log. The 22d proved clear, and permitted us to obtain plates ol Reel rookery in the morning, and ol Tolstoi and Zapadnie rookeries in the afternoon. A dense log continued Irom the 23d to the 25th inclusive, followed by clear weather on the 26th, when we visited and photographed Northeast Point rookery, the writer remaining there overnight to complete his observations. Polavina rookery was photographed in the afternoon ol the 28th, and on the 29th observations were made at Tolstoi and Peel rookeries. A severe storm prevailed during the 30th, and on the-following day I visited that part of Reef rookery lying under the cliffs lor the purpose ol ascertaining to what extent young pups may have been destroyed by it, but I found the damage slight. In the afternoon I visited JZapaduie rookery, and Mr. Miller returned on board the Albatross. On August 1 photographs were obtained ol Lagoon rookery and of Reef rookery from Village Hill. The 2d and 3d were spent in making general observations; from the 4th to the 7th fogs and storms prevailed; on the 8th visits were paid to Lukannon and Ketavie rookeries, and to the rookery on Sea Lion Rock. On the 9th I secured photographs of Northeast Point rookery from Hutchinson Hill, but the weather was rainy or foggy from the 10th to the 13th, permitting only of brief examinations being made ol Reel and Ketavie rookeries. August 14 I visited Tolstoi rookery and found several hundred dead seal pups, nine-tenths of which had undoubtedly been killed under the cliffs during the recent storm. Their bodies were lying just along the line ol debris left by the highest wash ol the waves, and as they were mostly near the commencement ol the sand beach, they had evidently been swept Irom the narrow rookery at the loot ol the cliff extending out to the point. On August 16 I was again transferred to St. George Island, where I spent that and the two following days in reexamining the several rookeries. They were all well covered by the spreading out ol the seals which takes place in August, and makes the rookeries look larger than in July. A large proportion ol the young pups were also swimming about the adjacent kelp beds off Little East rookery. In the afternoon ol the 18th I rejoined the Albatross. CONDITION OF THE ROOKERIES. ST. PAUL ISLAND. Northeast Point rookery.—The seals along the eastern side of this rookery were found distributed as in 1892, but undoubtedly much more thinly in the immediate vicinity ol the point. Along the western side they were hauled out a little larther back, owing perhaps to the later date at which the observations were made. One or two breaks in the beach line had closed since the preceding season, but no increase can be noted on account ol the thinning at the point. It is, therefore, probable that no appreciable change has taken place in the total number ol seals on the rookery since 1892. No seals whatever from this rookery have been killed lor several seasons. Photographed July 26 and August 9. Polavina rookery shows a decrease in seals, although the usual area is occupied. It will be noticed in the photographs of the main rookery 6 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. -(Station G) by the thinly covered spaces. There was also a perceptible thinning among the small bands of breeding seals under the bluffs between Little Polavina and the main rookery. Photographed July 28. Little Polavina rookery has apparently suffered a slight decrease. The wide hauling ground between this rookery and the main Polavina was practically bare throughout the season, seals being seen generally close to the bluff in the vicinity of the slopes that give access from the beach. Photographed July 28. Lukannon rookery.—On that part of this rookery where the seals atfe crowded, chiefly between the low bluff and the beach, there has been no apparent change, but there were certainly fewer seals than in 1892 upon the hill that divides this rookery from Ketavie. The hauling ground had largely changed from the slope at the west end of the rookery to the sand beach just north of it, as shown in the photograph taken at station 26. Photographed July 17. Ketavie rookery, now the thinnest rookery on the inlands, shows a perceptible decrease since 1892. This decrease is distinguishable in some, if not all, of the photographs of the rookery. Photographed July 17. Reef rookery.—The hauling grounds at this rookery have not been delineated upon the chart for the reason that the bachelors were driven too often to permit of their lying in a perfectly natural condition. This rookery shows a shrinkage under the low bluffs just north of Garbotch (indicated on the chart), but otherwise there has been no change that I can detect. There was a loss of one or two hundred pups from the storm of July 30,1893. Sea Lion Rock, lying just off this rookery, was visited and found to be very evenly occupied by breeding seals. The central portions of Reef Point, over which the badhelors travel more or less, is becoming distinctively more thickly covered with grass from year to year. Photographed July 22. Lagoon rookery remains unchanged since 1892. Photographed August 1. Tolstoi rookery.—The photographs exhibit only a slight change or -thinning out of the seals at this place, which is shown more distinctly on the chart. There was a loss of perhaps 500 young pups from the storm of July 30, 1893. They were swept from the narrow beacfh below the cliff and deposited in a windrow at high-water mark near the commencement of the sand beach to the northward. There was no other loss of pups here, with the exception of the scattered loss from natural causes. Photographed July 22. Lower Zapadnie rookery showed no change in number of seals, with the exception of tme or two breaks along the shingle beach. Photographed July 22. Upper Zapadnie rookery is the most difficult seal area on the Pribilof Islands to examine, and as the weather did not permit the use of a boat, the larger bands of seals near the beach could not be approached without disturbing the tract of seals in their rear. There has, however, been a decrease of seal life here, which is, I think, noticeable on the photographs. Photographed July 22. ST. GHEORGKE ISLAND. East rookery shows very little change since last season, except in the distribution of bachelors, the main body of which had hauled out north of the pond instead of south of it as in 1892. Owing to the unfavorable points from which this rookery has to be photographed to avoid .'^•■Utw'ttot&SRNt' .J^vJW^vTKV SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 7 disturbing the herd, the change that has taken place here is scarcely perceptible in the photographs. Although the same area is occupied by breeding seals as in 1892, and is so indicated on the chart, the change is there expressed by the words "Thinned out slightly since 1892." Photographed July 15. | j§ |: Little East rookery presents the same appearance as in 1892. I am not able to detect any change, and the photographs taken there do not seem to indicate any. Photographed July 15. North rookery.—The seals are disposed on t\\iU rookery much as in 1892, but a slight decrease is perceptible, which is also shown by the photograph taken at station 5. Photographed July 14. Starry Arteel rookery.—The scattered fringe of seals along the main rookery visible in 1892 now seems to have been absorbed into the main* body of breeding seals. The chart will be found to indicate a reced- ence toward the bluff at two or three points. Bachelor seals seem also* to be less numerous and were not found distributed so far back as usual, the higher positions on the hill being mostly unoccupied this, year. Photographed July 14. Zapadnie rookery shows more shrinkage than any other of the St* George Island rookeries. The decrease is perceptible in the photograph taken at station 6. The main breeding ground on the hill slope by the bluff is decidedly scattered as compared with 1892, and there are two breaks in the narrow breeding ground along the beach. The? hauling ground of bachelors is much more thinly covered, and seals, were not found as far back as in 1892. Photographed July 13. ' . i :\\ 2 July 26 July 17. ....do ... Do. I....do ... Do. ....do Do. ....do... Do. ... .do ... Do. | Aug. 9 Aug. 6. . July 26 July 20. ....do ... Do. July 28 Do. do Do. do Do. do ... Do. ....do ... Julv 21: July 17 July 19. J do ... July 14. do ... J uly 19. Do. |....do ... ....do... Do. ....do ... Do. i July 22 Do. do ... Do. do ... Do. do Do. ....do ... July 20. ....do...| No date Aug. 1 July 18. ....do ... July 22^ July 22 1 Julv 19. ....do ... .J uly 20. do ...' Julv 18. do ...| Do. do ... Do. ... .do .. . Do. ... .do ... Do. ST. GEORGE ISLAND. East 9 (near) j A Little East B& North 1 i 2 ! 3 I 5. Starry Arteel E6 Zapadnie D .. I C .. (c) ») July 15 July 15 • > ....do... July 27. o ....do ... July 28 1 Julv 14 Julv 14. ....do... Do. 1 ....do ... Do. 2 do ... Do. 2 ....do ... Julv 28 5 July 13 —do ... Do. 2 Do. a This set of photographs not transmitted for publication, the accompanying series for 1895, showing more reduced condition of rookeries, being deemed sufficient. b United States Fish Commission station. c One negative lost. SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. THE ROOKERIES IN 1894. letter of transmittal. United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries, Washington, D. C, February 23, 1895. Sir: In accordance with your verbal request, I have the honor to transmit herewith a report upon the condition of the seal rookeries,, Pribilof Islands, Alaska, during the season of 1894, the same being based upon observations made by one of the assistants of this Commission, Mr. C. H. Townsend, in compliance with the requirements of the act approved March 3,1893. Yery respectfully, Herbert A. Gill, Acting Commissioner. The Secretary of the Treasury, Washington, D. C. INTRODUCTION. The report herewith submitted is based upon observations made on the Pribilof Islands between July 12 and August 1, and again between September 9 and 13,1894. It is accompanied by 11 charts and 38 photographic views, the former showing the outlines of the rookeries, the latter illustrating the condition of the most characteristic portions of each rookery, at the time of making the observations. The positions from which the photographs were made are identical with those from which similar views were taken in 1892 and 1893, while the dates of both charts and photographs correspond as closely with those of preceding seasons as the conditions of weather permitted. This report should be considered in connection with those previously submitted^ as being one of the series intended to present the yearly changes in the conditions of the rookeries. The steamer Albatross arrived at St. George Island on the morning of July 8,1894, and remained there at anchor until the 12th without being able to effect a landing on account of stormy weather. Not wishing to detain the ship longer, it was decided to begin the work upon the rookeries of St. Paul Island, where the opportunities for landing are better, and, accompanied by Mr. N. B. Miller, laboratory assistant of the Albatross, and Mr. J. Stanley-Brown, I landed at Northeast Point on the evening of the 12th, the Albatross sailing for Unalaska at once, July 13 was spent in examining and photographing Northeast Point and Polavina rookeries, and we reached the village by wagon in the evening, our baggage having been taken there from the Point on the U. S. S. Banger. On the 14th we examined and photographed Zapadnie, Upper Zapadnie, and Tolstoi rookeries. On the 15th, clear weather continuing, we examined and photographed Beef, Ketavie, and Lukannon rookeries, thus completing the necessary photographic work for this island in less time than we had ever been able to do it before. I made a further examination of the rookeries of Zapadnie, Upper Zapadnie,, seal life on the pribilof islands. 11 and Tolstoi on the 16th, and plotted upon the base maps the distribution of seals at Tolstoi and Lagoon rookeries on the 17th. Beef, Polavina, Ketavie, and Lukannon were revisited on the 18th for chart data. Leaving Mr. Miller to develop the plates exposed on St. Paul Island,. I sailed on the morning of the 19th for St. George Island on the U. S. S. Alert, and succeeded in landing the same evening. On the 20th I collected the necessary chart data for East and Little East rookeries, St. George Island. From the 18th to the 21st, inclusive, the weather was too stormy for photographic work, and it was not until the 22d that I got the first photographs on St. George Island, those of North rookery. The 23d proved stormy, but with better weather on the 24th I secured photographs of East and Little East rookeries. Chart data for North rookery were secured the same day, and I duplicated some photographs of North rookery taken in 1891. From the 25th to the c27th it was too stormy for photographic work, but I collected chart data for Zapadnie and Starry Arteel rookeries on the 27th. On the 28th I photographed the latter rookery. On the 29th an opportunity was afforded for returning to St. Paul Island on the U. S. S. Adams, and, as the most important rookeries are located on that island, I returned without having secured photographs of Zapadnie rookery. I immediately recommenced work on the rookeries of St. Paul Island, spending the 30th at Northeast Point and Polavina rookeries, the 31st at Beef rookery, and August 1 at LukannoB and Ketavie rookeries. The Albatross returned to St. Paul Island on the evening of August 1, and thinking that my time could then be spent more profitably cruising among the fleet of pelagic sealers and observing their work than by remaining longer on the islands. I went on board that evening accompanied by Mr. Miller. My time while at the islands was spent on the rookeries, whether the- weather was clear or stormy,.Mr. Miller attending to the development of the plates, thus giving me ample opportunity for going over most of the rookeries two or three times. Satisfactory photographs were taken of all rookeries except Zapadnie, on St. George Island. Station 27 (Lagoon rookery) and the one on Village Hill (Beef rookery) were abandoned, as showing nothing on account of distance. The dates for photographing the rookeries of St. George Island were changed to those of St. Paul Island and vice versa, this change being rendered necessary, as explained above, by the uncertainty of the landings at the former island. St. Paul, moreover, being the more important island, is most deserving of attention, and, in the future, I would recommend the completion of the work on that island first. Several of the photographic stations on the rookeries were marked with their numbers or letters in white lead, on the nearest permanent bowlders. The stations now marked are as follows: St. Paul Island.—Beef, Ketavie, Lukannon, Lagoon, Zapadnie, ancl Upper Zapadnie (Stations Nos. 12, 20, 14, 1U, 15, 17,18,19, 20, 27, 7, 8, 8a, 9, 10). 'St. George Island.—East, Little East, North, and Starry Arteel (9. A, B, 1, 2, 3, 5, E). For most of the remaining unmarked stations heavy stakes will have to be driven into the sand, few permanent bowlders being available. The photograph of the grass area on Beef rookery was not duplicated owing to bad weather, which is to be regretted, as it would have shown how very rapidly this portion of the Beef is becoming grass-grown. ^^B H ^^H ^^^H ■ ^| ^H ^^H| H ^H ^^^^H jSBjjj ■ seal life on the pribilof islands. condition of the rookeries. ST. PAUL ISLAND. Northeast Point rookery.—Although a comparison of the charts and photographs of this rookery for 1894 with those made in 1893 may indicate a slight diminution of seals, I am not prepared to state that this is the case. Owing to unfavorable weather the observations of last year were made later than they should have been, after the spreading of the rookeries had commenced. The data for the present year having been secured earlier, the difference in the records should be accounted for accordingly. 1 note, however, an additional break in the belt of breeding seals in the immediate vicinity of the Point. Polavina rookery.—Although the photographs from Station G show very little change in position, the rookery when viewed ^rom other points appeared to have a well-marked break in the center, which will be found indicated on the chart. Good weather having followed very stormy weather, the seals had taken to the water to a noticeable degree when the photograph was made. I think that no actual'decrease can be recorded. Little Polavina rookery apparently exhibits no diminution since last year and very little change in position. Lukannon rookery.—No perceptible change in the number or position of breeding seals was noticed here. Ketavie rookery.—This small and gradually diminishing rookery, I believe, shows a shrinkage since last season, but not a very marked one. Beef rookery.—No decrease is apparent. The change in distribution is slight. Lagoon rookery remains unchanged since last year. Tolstoi rookery.—The seals here are perhaps a little more concentrated at the north end of the rookery; but otherwise there is no change. Zapadnie rookery.—The hill portion of this rookery is unchanged, but the very thin portion extending about a mile along the shingle beach •exhibits several breaks never before noticeable. While the fur seal, naturally so gregarious, returns year after year under normal conditions to its accustomed breeding grounds, there are indications that it is less at home upon tracts which are becoming thin, .and is inclined to concentrate upon adjacent breeding tracts more thickly covered with seals. This appears to be the case with the above- mentioned Ketavie rookery, and in the case of Zapadnie to be borne out by the appearance of an increase upon the adjoining rookery of Upper Zapadnie. This scattered beach rookery is illustrated by one of the photographs. Upper Zapadnie rookery.—An increase since last season being indicated here, I went over the ground very carefully, and, although it may not be apparent in the photographs, the chart will be found to show changes which I believe mean a slight increase. ST. GEORGE ISLAND. Fast rookery.—It is possible that this rookery has suffered a slight shrinkage since last season, but I found it difficult to decide that such was the case. Little Fast rookery remains unchanged. North rookery.—Slight and unimportant changes in distribution were observed, but no apparent decrease. Starry Arteel rookery remains unchanged. Zapadnie rookery.—There is a widening of the break along the beach portion of the rookery, but no decrease was noticeable. a atiteaisfia ii** *~ v ■am SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. CONCLUSIONS AS TO CONDITION OF ROOKERIES. 13 At the time of my inspection in July, 1894, the seal rookeries of the Pribilof Islands, taken as a whole, were found to be in nearly the same condition as in 1893. While the number of seals has slowly been diminishing, the decrease having continued even during the period when Bering Sea was closed to pelagic sealing, no decrease in general was noticeable this year up to the date of my departure from the islands on August 1. This is probably traceable to the cessation of sealing in the North Pacific Ocean on May 1,1894, or soon thereafter. During the mouths of May and June the migrating seals become massed south of the Alaska Peninsula as they move toward the passes through which they enter Bering Sea, and a very considerable portion of the catch has been taken annually in that region by the fleet of pelagic sealers. By Reason of the cessation of pelagic sealing on May 1 of the present year, the seal herd was spared the excessive killing from which it has usually suffered there in the past, and the rookeries, in consequence, presented approximately the same appearance as at the time of my last examination. This was contrary to previous experience, as an annual decrease had always been observed during the several preceding years. i Circumstances affecting seriously the welfare of the seal herd arose, however, before the close of the present season, necessitating a second and later examination of the rookeries, which revealed an alarming change in their condition. By the award of the Paris Tribunal of Arbitration, Bering Sea, with the exception of a zone of 60 miles around the Pribilof Islands, was opened up to pelagic sealers after August 1, with the result of causing great destruction to the seal herd. The killing of over 31,000 seals belonging to these islands and consisting chiefly of nursing females, was followed, necessarily, by the loss, through starvation, of thousands of young seals upon the rookeries. LOSS OF YOUNG SEALS IN SEPTEMBER AS A RESULT OF PELAGIC SEALING DURING AUGUST. After finishing the work of inspection upon the Pribilof Islands on August 1,1 cruised with the Albatross among the fleet of pelagic sealers until September 9, when 1 landed again upon the islands to investigate the loss of young seals, which was reported as becoming serious. Thirty-eight vessels known to us, hunting just outside of the prohibited zone, took 31,542 seals during the months of August and September, these consisting for the most part of nursing females, which resulted in the additional loss, by starvation, of the young seals thus left without means of nourishment. Although sealing began on August 1, no dead pups were noticed on the rookeries until about September 1, after which time they were found in increasing numbers, and at the date of my departure from the islands, September 13, careful examination had disclosed a loss of at least 9,000 pup seals, with a prospective loss of nearly as many more found in an emaciated and exhausted condition. With the assistance of Mr. Miller, the resident agents of the Treasury, and Mr. H. C. Chichester, I counted 2,349 pups upon the following rookeries: ST. GEORGE ISLAND. North rookery, September 9 and 10, Townsend and Miller (whole rookery) 405 Starry Arteel, September 9, Townsend (whole rookery) 305 East rookery, September 10, Townsend and Agent Ziebach (hill slope only).. 130 Little East, September 9, Miller (whole rookery) .„... 140 Total counted..... J 980 Zapadnie rookery and beach portion of East rookery not counted. 14 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. ST. PAUL ISLAND. Garbotch (or Reef) rookery, September 10 and 12, Townsend and Chichester (west side only) 492 Lagoon, September 12, Townsend, Chichester; and Treasury Agent Judge (whole rookery) 105 Tolstoi, September 12, Townsend, Chichester, and Treasury Agent Judge (hill and nearer beach) 497 Lower Zapadnie. September 12, Townsend, Chichester, and Treasury Agcfort Judge (whole rookery) 2?5 Total counted 1,369 Total on both islands * 2,349 On other rookeries showing a similar condition I compared the uncounted area with that already counted, estimating the.total loss as follows: Upper Zapadnie 350 Tolstoi (uncounted portion) 200 Reef 1,400 Lukannon and Ketavie 350; Polavina ofm Little Polavina 100 Northeast Point (greatest of all rookeries) 3,000 Total St. Paul Island, estimate for uncounted area 5,950 East Rookery (St. George, uncounted portion) 200 Zapandie (St. George) 450 Total St. George Island, estimate for uncounted area 650 Total uncounted, both islands 6, 600 Total counted, both islands 2,349 Total los3, both islands 8,949 Persons familiar with the comparative area of the rookeries will see how low these estimates are. The bodies counted were those of pups that had died within ten days or two weeks and were fresh, although greatly emaciated. No rotten bodies, such as might have died during the breeding season from injuriesr received on the rookeries, were included, although a limited number of such were seen. The attempt to count weak, emaciated pups was given up, owing to the difficulty of separating any but the very weakest from the more active and strong pups. Large numbers of starving pups were observed, and they were, to the best of my belief, nearly as numerous as the dead ones. In counting it was found necessary to pass over the rookeries systematically, which resulted in clearing the section counted, and driving most of the seals into the water or farther inland, according to the direction from which they were approached. All adults and active pups moved off" in a body, followed by the less active and starving pups, there being occasional weak, tottering pups unable to do so. These fell over frequently and seldom moved far. They were thin and gaunt, and clearly starving. The majority of the pups were strong and active and cows were observed everywhere suckling them. All dead pups were confined to the regular breeding grounds and were evenly distributed, indicating that they died near where their mothers had left them. Young seals are very fat and seem to endure a month or more of 4 starvation before they succumb. I have, from year to year, observed CO \\- *»»^*#-* km^MfSStK^ SEAL LIFE ON THE PKIBILOF ISLANDS. 15 occasional young seals brought into the villages on the Pribilof Islands to be raised as pets, but in no case have they fed, except when milk was forced into them, and even then they did not live more than three weeks. Young seals continue to live entirely upon their mother's millf until late in the fall. During my examination of the rookeries, from September 9 to 13, I found the females suckling their young as commonly as they are observed doing a month earlier in the season. One* handsome albino pup, as large as any of the others, I secured as a natural history specimen. It was coffee-colored, with white nippers. It was left upon a high rock, and finding, upon ray return in the evening, that two quarts of thick milk had run from its mouth, I photo* graphed it. It weighed, after losing its milk, 18J pounds. I dissected several dead pups, finding in all cases an almost complete disappearance of fat from under the skin and an entire absence of food of any kind in the stomach. Accompanying photographs of dead pups illustrate, iu a measure, the condition in which they were found, but most of the photographs are unsatisfactory. List of the charts showing the outlines of the rookeries on the Fribilof Islands, July, 1S94.1 ST. PAUL ISLAND. Northeast Point rookery | uly 13, Chart A Polavina rookery July 18, Chart B Ketavie and Lukannon rookeries July 15, Chart C Reef and Garbotch rookeries July 15, Chart D Tolstoi and Lagoon rookeries July 17, Chart E Zapadnie and English Bay rookeries July 14, Charts F and GIST. GEORGE ISLAND. Starry Arteel rookery July 27, Chart H North rookerv Julv 24, Chart I East and Little East rookeries July 20, Chart J Zapadnie rookery July 27, Chart K List of the photographs of the seal rookeries on the Pribilof Islands, taken in July, 1894, by X, B. Miller and C. H. Townsend, showing the dates on which they were made, a ST. PAUL ISLAND. Rookery. IB Station. 1 2 (north). 2 (south). o N/umber of plates in each view. i 1 1 I 2 1 2 2 2 1 6 . 3 2 Date on which taken. Rookery. ! Ketavie Reef i i Tolstoi Station. 14 13 14* Number of plates in each view. 4 Date on which taken. Xorfcheast Point.. - Jnlyl3 Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. July 26 JulVlo Do. J uly 15 Do. Do. Do. Do, 1 Oo- Do 4 16 3 17 5 19 ' 2 20 2 n -a 6 25 21 22 23 24 ■Gk .".."."."*." 12 26 Do. Julv 14 Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Lukannon Lower Zapadnie.. Upper Zapadnie.. F 7 8 8» 9 10 9 2 2 2 9 3 a Thisiset of photographs not transmitted for publication, the accompanying series for 1895, show* ing more reduced condition of rookeries, being deemed sufficient. 1 This set of ma$s not transmitted for publication, the accompanying set for 1895, showing more reduced area of rookeries, beino: deemed sufficient; 16 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. IAst of the photographs of the seal rookeries on the Pribilof Islands, etc.—Continued. ST. GEORGE ISLAND. Rookery. Station. Number of plates in each view. Date on which taken. ' P Rookery. North Station. 2 Number of plates in each view. 1 1 2 2 Date on which taken. East 9 A B 2 2 2 1 July 24 Do. Do. Do. July 24 Do. 1 Starry Arteel 3. Little East 5 Do. B July 28 OBSERVATIONS RELATIVE TO PELAGIC SEALING IN BERING SEA ;;^^P8" ' DURING THE SEASON OF 1894. | S INTRODUCTION. The report herewith presented inelndes the resnlts of observations made at sea between Angnst 1 and September 20,1894, together with certain data subsequently obtained at Victoria, Port Townsend, Seattle, and San Francisco. The work at sea was carried on in connection with the cruise of the United States Fish Commission steamer A Ibatross, at that time detailed as one of the vessels of the Bering Sea patrol fleet. The cruising ground assigned to the Albatross was to the westward and southward of the islands, chiefly outside of the protected zone, but trips were also made to the northwest and southeast of the islands. During the cruise sealing vessels were boarded whenever met with, and I accompanied the boarding officer at all times, for the purpose of obtaining information in connection with their operations from day to day. In addition to the data secured by the boarding officer, I copied from the sealer's log books all notes regarding the positions where seals were taken, and examined all fresh skins not yet consigned to the kenches. The record of positions where seals were taken by Canadian vessels is incomplete, as most of those vessels continued sealing for some time after being boarded, while others were not met with. Similar data obtained from American vessels at sea were finally secured in full after their arrival at home ports. Sealers were constantly questioned concerning sealing matters, and statements made by them will be found in the following pages. I have, under a separate heading, called attention to the effectiveness with which pelagic sealing was carried on in Bering Sea by the 38 vessels engaged in it. It will be seen, after proper consideration of this point, how very destructive to the life of this industry the presence of a larger fleet would be. In my report for last year I pointed out the loss of young seals that might be looked for upon the islands if a large number of female seals were to be taken in Bering Sea during the breeding season. This has bee»i borne out by the experience of the past season, 20,000 being the lowest estimate that can be made for dead pups, and we may confidently expect to see a still greater loss of this kind next season if sealing is continued on the feeding grounds. The results of the season's pelagic catch in Bering Sea were already apparent on the rookeries when I went over them from September 9 to 13, and will be still more so when the annual examination is made next July. The rookeries in their present condition can not lose 50,000 seals mam KBHS inn^rrr T?iTi7w^» m m CC < Q. CO CD Z o cr X u_ O Q O X h- UJ CD Z I o 1 I 1 CO Ul O Z < o CD < p CO < Q Z ^gJ^geg^SS^agwSSSSS '•••SStttiiwrt*.***^ SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 17 in Bering Sea, in addition to the North Pacific catch, without such a loss being perceptible. As stated under the heading referring to the condition of the rookeries in 1894, the beneficial results of the cessation of sealing in May and June were apparent on the seal islands in July. This would seem to iudicate that a respite of two months in addition to such protection as was afforded by the modus vivendi, would be sufficient to keep the seal herd in its present condition. We may also infer that any additional restrictions that might be placed on sealing in the North Pacific would count as a gain, and permit an increase in the herd in proportion to the protection afforded, provided, of course, that there be no increase in the size of the sealing fleet. Accompanying this report are a series of photographs illustrating some of the features of sealing with spears, and also a chart showing the distribution of the seal herd on its feeding grounds in Bering Sea. DATA OBTAINED FROM THE SEALING FLEET. The following tables1 contain the daily sealing data of the pelagic sealing fleet in Bering Sea during August and September, 1894, giving the catch of each vessel, sex of seals taken, latitude and longitude of each day's operations, with more or less data on the crew, boats, and hunters of each vessel. With exception of one vessel not yet returned it is complete for the American portion of the sealing fleet. The data for Canadian vessels are given for such vessels as I was able to board in Bering Sea. The remainder having turned in their log books to the collector at Victoria I could not complete the work when I went there. A record of the daily operations of the pelagic sealing fleet, even in part, yields new and valuable information. It shows the number of males and females at different distances from the Pribilof Islands, the portions of Bering Sea most frequented by the seals, the exact number of days during the season when the weather permitted of seals being taken;z it is data upon which to base an accurate map of seal distribution during the breeding season, etc. These records, kept by the sealers in accordance with the regulations put in force by the Paris award, constitute the first accurate information of the kind and supply data respecting the seals at sea, of which we have long been in need. The daily records of the sealers should have been collected by the custom-houses to which they reported, but it was neglected, and I have had to search for them, as some of the discharged masters carried their log books away with them, making it very difficult to collect the information. The catch of the Canadian portion of the fleet in Bering Sear appears to be 26,341. By questioning many of the sealers at Victoria I ascertained it to be 26,312, which tallies very closely with the figures given in the report of the collector at Victoria, 26,341. This number, plus the American catch of £,2t!l, i\\.akes the Bering Sea pelagic catch of 1894 31,542, unless there were vessels sealing in Bering Sea of which we have nk| knowledge, which is very doubtful. There were 27 Canadian vessels in Bering Sea and only 11 American vessels. The Canadian vessels hunting with Indian spearmen from Vancouver and Queen Charlotte islands were very successful, while the 1 The tables referred to will be found appended to the report for 1895. 2 This is partly worked out in the tables following for August and September. S. Doc. 137, pt. 2 2 IJJ SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. American vessels, with the exception of two or three, made poor catches* Sealing with spears in Bering Sea has therefore been profitable to Canadian rather than American vessels. In respect to the claim that Bering Sea weather is sufficiently unfavorable for sealing to afford the seals protection from excessive spear hunting, the accompanying tables, although based on incomplete data, show that there was only one day during the season, from August 1 to September 21, when seals were not taken, and it is possible that when all the data are accessible through exchange with Great Britain it will be shown that seals were taken daily throughout the season. The same tables indicate that storms in Bering Sea are local in their nature, vessels to the westward of the Pribilof Islands having been hove-to, while others to the southward were making good catches. COMMENT ON THE PROPORTIONS OF THE SEXES REPORTED BY THE SEALING FLEET. I have compared the proportions of the sexes of seals taken in Bering Sea by the Canadian and American fleets, and having considered both in the light of depositions now in the possession of the Treasury Department, made by London furriers, I can not admit that the proportion of male and female seals reported by the vessels is correct. American sealers reported a greater proportion of females, and in no case reported more males than females, as some of the masters of Canadian vessels have done. The latter were sealing very close to vessels reporting from two to five times as many females as males. When I questioned the masters of the schooners Favorite, Walter Rich, Henrietta, etc., as to their alleged greater number of males, their explanations to me were that their seals were skinned in the canoes by the Indians, and the pelts thrown on deck as they returned after dark, and that under the circumstances they had no time to bother with inspecting skins minutely as to sex.' Such returns are unreliable, and there is no doubt about the proportion of female seals taken by the Canadian fleet being, much greater than reported. This is borne out by the sworn statements, now in possession of the Treasury Department, of Messrs. Martin and Teichmann, of London, as to the sex of seal skins derived from the pelagic catch of 1894 in Bering Sea and the North Pacific Ocean. These gentlemen personally inspected some of the largest consignments of seal skins taken in 1894 and found 85 to 90 per cent of them to be females. Mr. Lupp, of San Francisco, a seal hunter of several years' experience, informs me that the catch of 1,400 seals made by the vessel he sailed with on the Japan Coast in 1892 consisted almost entirely of females with young, there being less than 50 males in the entire lot, and that of a catch of 1,100 seals taken by his vessel, the Louis Olsen, in 1894, in the same region, all were females but about one dozen. Mr. John Fanning, who cruised as a hunter with the schooners Denny and Retriever, informs me that nine out of every ten seals taken on the Japan Coast by him were females, and that when sealing off the Commander Islands eight out of every ten were females in milk. I questioned other sealers on this point, eliciting similar statements. In view of the above statements of London furriers, the statements of masters of Canadian vessels as to the uncertainty of their method of ascertaining the sex of each day's catch, and the statements of Japan Coast sealers as to the great proportion of females in pelagic catches,, to say nothing of our knowledge of the subject from results apparent LBMUJ iiiiiiiii oo cc O QQ CC < X cc o \\- o m UI UJ _1 U. CD Z _l < UJ co z < < Z < o UJ I I- O Q_ SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 19 on the Pribilof Islands, the returns of the Canadian sealers operating in Bering Sea may well be questioned. They report but 14,636 females in a catch of 26,341, while the American fleet reports 3,813 females in a catch of 5,201—a much greater proportion. Not one American sealer reported more males than females. One of them, the Deeahks—captain and all hands being Indians—reported only 155 males in a catch of 1,023, while seven Canadian sealers reported more males than females. One Canadian sealer, the master of the Borealis, apparently without guile, has come very near the truth in reporting only 90 males in a Catch of 1,059 seals. I ascertained upon inquiry at the custom-houses at Port Townsend and San Francisco that the catches of but three of the American sealers from Bering Sea had been examined by experts in furs to determine the proportions of the sexes represented. These were the Therese, Jane Grey, and Rose Sparks. The catch of the Louis Olsen, an American sealer, landed at Victoria, was examined by my colleague, Mr. A. B. Alexander, of the United States Fish Commission. None of the others, either American or Canadian, were subjected to such an examination, but their returns, as a whole, are still capable of correction in the light of depositions by the London furriers, who received and inspected the bulk of the pelagic catch. The examination of the catches of the four vessels named above shows the proportion of females to range from two-thirds to four-fifths of their catch. As to the catches of the Flid Johnson, Deeahks, Stella Frland, Ida Ftta, Columbia, smdAllie Algar, that of the Deeahks has evidently been faithfully recorded, while the others have at least placed themselves on the safe side. Of the Canadian fleet, the Labrador, Aurora, Mary Ellen, Walter Farle, San Jose, Beatrice, etc., reporting from two-thirds to three fourths females, are also on the safe side, while the Borealis stands unique in reporting almost an entire catch of females (only 90 males in a catch of 1,149). As to the Sapphire, Ainoko, Walter Rich, Favorite, Henrietta, etc., the less said the better. They are convicted of inaccuracy by their own admissions. If there was intention to deceive as to the proportion of the sexes in Bering Sea, discrepancies should have been guarded against, as comparisons with the returns made by the Borealis, Deeahks, Walter Farle, etc., are damaging. The proportion of females in the Canadian catch has not been represented in good faith, as it does not correspond with what the fur trade know to be the actual conditions; with what nine sealers out of ten say about the composition of pelagic catches in general, and with what we known by count and observation to have been the loss of young seals by starvation. ABSENCE OF FEMALES FROM ROOKERIES AFTER AUGUST FIRST, AND EASE WITH WHICH THEY MAY BE TAKEN AT SEA. On August 1,1894, just before leaving the Pribilofs on an extended cruise on the pelagic sealing grounds, I examined two small rookeries very carefully (Ketavie and Lukannor«j,for the purpose of ascertaining the proportion of females upon the breeding grounds. On that date I estimated that about 80 per cent of the seals present consisted of males and young, clearly indicating the great extent to which the females were feeding at sea. The cruising ground of the Albatross for the first week in August was far to the northwest of the islands, where very few seals were seen. On the 7th, just outside the protected zone and to the northwest of St. 20 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Paul, we found seals in abundance. The sea being perfectly smooth, I went out in the dingey a few hundred yards from the ship and photographed several seals, showing their positions when asleep and awake. The distance at which we were able to photograph them was from 30 to 40 feet. In the three-quarters of an hour 26 seals were counted. Most of them were sleeping, and all were females, judging by size alone. The photographs show the customary attitudes. Seals sleeping at sea have little more than the nose, lower jaw, and hind flippers above water, the ffire flippers being raised occasionally as the animal scratches itself or rolls slowly from side to side. The back is always down and deeply submerged. As a rule sealing with spears is practicable only when seals are found asleep, the ordinary spearing distance being 30 to 35 feet. To the fur seal's unfortunate habit of sleeping much at sea is chiefly traceable its diminution, for it is at such times most readily approached by the pelagic sealer and taken with guns or spears. The number of seals to be observed asleep in Bering Sea is greater than elsewhere, the migration Sleeping fur seals. being over and the animals feeding at their natural habitat. It is a well-known fact of natural history that breeding male seals do not leave the rookeries during the breeding season, and that young pups can not leave the immediate vicinity of the islands until they depart on their first migration southward. From the almost constant presence on the hauling grounds of the nonbreeding males, it is also well established that they do not leave the islands to any great extent. The females alone constitute a class that feed at long distances from the islands during the breeding season. Their excursions in search of food extend over 200 miles, and commencing soon after the birth of their young are continued to the close of the season. There can be no doubt but that the nursing females are the most constantly exposed of any class of seals to the destructive methods of pelagic sealing in Bering Sea, and that their capture during the breeding season is, of all the agencies tending toward the diminution of the seal herd, the one most to be deplored. SLEEPING FUR SEAL. USUAL POSITION. AUGUST 7, 1894, BERING SEA. (Floating back down, with hind flippers turned forward. Photographed at distance of 35 feet.) MM itttili 1111111 I 1 m iii FUR SEALS JUST AWAKENED, AUGUST 7, 1894, BERING SEA. II TMM1MSMaBmiBBaa8g!a*^ SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 21 The opening of Bering Sea to pelagic sealing has proved the most fatal of all the provisions of the Paris award. EFFECTIVE METHODS OF THE SEALING FLEET. The effectiveness with wiiich pelagic sealing may be carried on in a circumscribed hunting ground like Bering Sea may be more clearly set forth by directing attention to the number of hunting boats engaged during the past season. The sealing fleet consisted of 38 schooners, carrying from 6 to 20 boats or canoes apiece—the average number being about 12. The boats hunted in all directions, frequently going 10 miles away from the vessels to which they belonged, the hunting areas of the different schooners thus overlapping at times. I have often spoken canoes 8 miles from their schooners. Pursuing seals in this systematic way, 38 vessels carrying somewhat more than 450 boats, took 31,542 skins in six weeks, notwithstanding the fact that many of them were late in reaching Bering Sea from the Japan coast, and left early on account of having their North Pacific catches on board, for the purpose of being early in market, on account of the impatience of Indian hunters already wearied with the long Japan coast cruise, lack of provisions, or for other reasons. THE USE OF SPEARS. Of the Canadian fleet in Bering Sea, all but six schooners carried Indian hunters from Vancouver and Queen Charlotte islands. These natives have been taking seals off their own shores with the spear from time immemorial, and it was a fatal mistake on the part of the Paris Tribunal to underestimate the efficiency of spears in such hands, a fact doubtless well known to those having charge of the British side of the case. The spear used during the past season is very similar to that figurecl by Scammon twenty years ago in writing of pelagic sealing by these natives.1 '1 he spear pole is 12 to 14 feet long, pronged, with two detachable barbed iron spear points, secured by a 30-yard line, the end of which is tied to the boat. When a seal is struck the barbed points slip off the pole, the latter being recovered after the seal has been pulled alongside the canoe and clubbed. Seals fight vigorously at such times and seldom fail to leave permanent marks of their sharp teeth on boats and canoes, while large bulls are very dangerous to handle. Pelagic sealing is altogether impracticable for our own Aleut natives, their light skin-covered bidarkies not being constructed to withstand such attacks as wounded seals make with their teeth. CHANGE OF FEEDING GROUNDS. The fur seal changes its feeding grounds in Bering Sea from year to year. The changes appear to be quite marked, and are doubtless dependent on the food supply. The pelagic catch for the summer of 1894 was made chiefly to the southeast of the Pribilofs, the rest of the catch being made south, southwest, west, and northwest of the islands. A small proportion only were taken along the border of the plateau. Capt. J. W, Todd, of the sealer Rose Sparks, states that in 1889 he found seals plentiful to the northeast of the Pribilofs, and moderate numbers were to the northwest and southeast. In 1887, when sealing with the schooner Lilly L., he found the herd chiefly to the southeast-, taking 197 seals in two days. 1 Marine Mam., Scammon, p. 159. 22 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Captain McCauley, of the sealer Beatrice, found seals plentiful 250 miles to the westward of the Pribilof Islands in 1891. Captain McLean, of the sealer Favorite, also reports a great abundance of seals to the westward of the islands in 1891 (latitude 56° 50', longitude 173° 30'), ten canoes taking (with guns) 972 seals in three days. Captain Guillams, of the sealer Louis Olsen, having in former years found seals in greatest numbers to the westward of the Pribilofs, cruised persistently in that portion of Bering Sea during the past season, taking only 84 seals. Many other sealers confidently expecting to find the bulk of the seal herd to the westward of the Pribilofs cruised there at the opening of the past season without success, but later made good catches to the southeastward. While engaged in pelagic sealing investigations with the United States revenue cutter Cor win in 1892 fur seals were plentiful to the westward of the Pribilofs, the cutter Rush, cruising to the east at the same time, meeting with very few. NOTES ON THE FOOD OF SEALS. Captain Todd says the food of seals taken near the mainland consists largely of salmon, and that this is true of the Japan and Copper Island sealing grounds as well as of the North American coast. Captain Magnesen, of the sealer Walter Farle. reports the seals taken on August 25, 1894 (latitude 56° 13', longitude 172° 44'), as feeding on salmon. Capt. S. Balcom, of the sealer Walter Rich, reported taking salmon occasionally from the stomachs of seals speared in Bering Sea in August, 1894. Capt. H. F. Siewerd, of the sealer Mascot, in 1894, collected the stomachs of three seals, containing pollock apparently, at the following position: Latitude north 56° 10', longitude west 171° 46'; August 28, latitude north 58° Ol7, longitude west 173° 29'; latitude north 58° 02', longitude west 172° 45% September 8. Captain Siewerd writes that other seals opened at the first position contained nothing but squid, and at the second position cod and squid; but it is possible that the fish observed were pollock, which closely resemble cod. Contents of the stomachs of 33 fur seals1 taken during the month of August, 1894, at distances varying from 100 to 140 miles west and northwest of the Pribilof Islands, along the border of the plateau, collected by A. B. Alexander, with the schooner Louis Olsen, show the following: Date. Latitude north. Longit wesi ude Se M. X. F. Contents of stomach. o / o / Aug. 4 6 7 7 10 11 57 50 58 SO 58 30 58 30 58 30 58 27 57 42 173 173 173 173 173 172 172 48 56 56 56 56 46 52 1 1 1 4 3 is' Fish, much digested, apparently pollock. Do. Pollock or cod, with one-half dozen squid; beaks small. Fish, much digested, apparently pollock. Full peck of red-fleshed fish resembling salmon; bones not determined. Fish, digested, probably pollock. Pollock. 1 Fifteen stomachs containing fish bones were saved for further examination, others thrown away. HSE SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 23 Mr. Alexander reports the seals taken by the Olsen to have been feeding on pollock, whenever identification was made with certainty. Several seals were speared in the act of eating pollock, the fresh remnants making identification certain. During the cruise large cod were taken at sealing stations in depths of 60 and 70 fathoms, and were so abundant that the decks could have been filled with them, although the stomachs of the seals taken contained pollock. The stomachs of the cod contained starfish, prawns, squid, jelly-fish, and a few small fishes; nothing of the kind being found in the stomachs of seals taken at the same positions. Some of the cod weighed 30 pounds, the average being 9 pounds, while an examination of the fish eaten by the seals shows the fish to have been of the size of pollock or smaller. It would appear that the seals taken by the Olsen were feeding near the surface. PROBABLE USE OF FIREARMS IN SEALING DURING SEASON OF 1894. In regard to the surreptitious use of firearms in Bering Sea, I have to state that conspicuous blood stains were noticed on several rookeries between September 9 and 12, 1894, both by the Treasury agents and myself, and indicated the presence of wounded animals. In a few cases dead seals were found. The blood as noticed in a dozen or more of places was spattered upon the rocks from the beach well back into the rookeries, leaving distinct bloody trails, with occasional bowlders well stained where the animals had paused. The stains were fresh, although being rapidly effaced by moving seals and wet weather. DEAD SEALS FOUND (ALL ADULTS). North rookery, 1 female; Starry Arteel, 1 female; Garbotch, 1 male and 5 females; Tolstoi, 3 females; Zapadnie, 1 male and 2 females; total, 14. The carcasses on Zapadnie were comparatively fresh, the others had been dead probably three weeks. From the fact of these carcasses being in the rookeries and rubbed and fouled by seals constantly crawling over them, I could not determine the presence of gunshot marks. I have left out of the above count three rotten carcasses found on Gar- botch, that apparently died early in the season. Mr. A. B. Alexander reports that while cruising with the Louis Olsen firing was heard from the vessel on August 10 during foggy weather, and that the hunters reported hearing guns constantly while out in the boats the same day. The crew are of the opinion that the firearms were being used for sealing, although nothing was seen. The hunters of the Favorite reported in Unalaska ou August 27 that they heard firearms in Bering Sea on several occasions. When I boarded the Walter Rich in Bering Sea September 6, the captain reported having speared a seal on the 5th freshly wounded with buckshot. Reports of a similar character came to our ears at times during the season. The patrol fleet found it impracticable to search vessels at sea.—nothing more than a cursory examination being possible under the circumstances. If .guns are to be prohibited, sealing vessels should be searched at the Unalaska wharf, or some other favorable place where there is a possibility of overhauling their cargoes in an effective manner. 24 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Fur-seal catch in Bering Sea in 1894. [From official sources.] AMERICAN VBSSELS. Vessel. Males. Females. Jfflla Johnson 322 Deeahks 155 Stella Eriand 219 Ida Etta 204 Columbia 180 Allie Algar. 128 Therese 81 Hose Sparks 37 Jane Grey 46 Louis Olsen 16 Total I 1,388 892 868 542 532 223 199 237 160 92 68 3,813 Total. 1,214 1 023 ?«1 730 403 327 318 197 138 84 5,201 Kent arks. Entered at Port Townsend. Do. Do. no. Do. Do. Entered at San Francisco. Do. Do. Catch landed at Victoria* CANADIAN VESSELS. Vessel. Triumph .... Sapphire Annie Moore Ainoko Minnie Walter Rich. Favorite Beatrice Katherine ... Venture Kate San Jose Fawn Walter Earle Borealis Males. 1, 1, 1, 1, 163 220 938 092 679 ouo 752 342 490 417 303 256 310 155 90 Females. Total. 2,077 3,240 879 2,105 1,009 1,947 565 1,657 986 1,005 749 1,749 488 1,240 818 1,160 569 1,059 492 909 564 807 593 749 336 046 517 672 1,059 1,149 Vessel. Henrietta... Kilmeny.... Saucy Lass. Mascot Mary Ellen, IJosie Olsen. Vera Aurora Arictis ..... Shelby Teresa? Labrador... Umbrina ... Total Males. 427 307 290 299 105 425 80 79 39 323 179 30 11,705 Females, i Total. 840 327 378 246 352 431 115 138 52 145 381 30 14,636 767 634 668 1,103 457 850 195 217 91 377 ?670 560 60 26,341 American Canadian. TOTAL CATCH, AMERICAN AND CANADIAN, IN BERING SEA. Males. Total. 1,388 11, 705 13, 093 Females. 3,813 14,636 18,449 Total. 5,201 26,341 31,542 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 25 Fur-seal catch of Canadian vessels for 1894. [From official sources.] Tons. Crews. Catch. Vessels. White. Indians. British Columbia coast. Japanese coast. Copper Island. Bering Sea. Total. Male. Female. 69 39 99 81 150 100 86 63 24 68 159 107 99 73 46 43 93 58 63 92 60 70 60 76 98 86 96 109 82 92 63 56 83 97 41 99 66 4Q 180 13 25 25 66 38 37 82 75 58 16 48 76 23 21 46 31 19 31 51 49 22 6 25 24 19 26 25 22 26 8 6 26 24 25 16 19 22 14 23 26 20 20 19 24 8 25 23 8 26 27 25 22 22 24 18 27 5 4 5 8 5 2 24 7 6 6 5 5 5 3 9 1 6 5 2 5 7 21 1,254 1,043 2,588 1,733 1,961 2,383 1,197 1,926 2, 584 1,471 911 1,707 710 1,603 1,304 874 1,010 925 1,909 1,437 606 1, 306 1,075 1,947 314 153 176 433 343 1, 568* jR.o$ic 01s6n 16 425 30 431 30 1,899 TTitibriD a ............. 2, 801 Oqp,ji.t fl.Tifl TTiiittiA 1,909* T^ffiTifla 2,394 2, 726 Arietis.. ........... 39 52 1,288- flflSPO 1,920 Dora KifiwflT'fJ 2,584 Walter A. Earle 20 18 471 155 310 517 336 2,143 Fawn 1, 557 Agnes Macdonald W P Hall 2,178: 710 TVf p/rmaifl 503 250 250. 200 907 86 2,108. City of San. Diego IVfarv Tavlor 1,554 1,124 Libbie.. 1, 210 Mav Belle 1,122 Mary Ellen.. 105 352 2,452 Viva 1,437 W. P. Savward 35 296 641 Penelope 1,602 Vera 80 115 1,270 Carlotta G. Cox . 1,947 Triumph Otto 36 1,320 1,163 2,077 4, 560^ 1,014 2,118 623 1,637 E. B. Marvin . 2,118 Sapphire 32 535 1,226 879 2,640 Annie E. Paint . 1,497 1,092 1,102 1,783 530 1,343 693 96 531 558 120 171 274 86 21 81 2,028 1,650* Teresa . 1, 222 Sadie Turpel . 1,954 Ocean Belle . .... 804 MaudS 1,429* Aurora 79 138 931 Florence M. Smith 177 Beatrice 22 16 37 37 14 7 17 20 26 22 20 10 17 25 13 8 20 14 12 17 22 358 606 309 308 400 418 170 303 269 467 79 34 342 299 752 938 179 818 246 488 1,009 381 1,518 Mascot 558 1,103 Favorite 1,846- Annie C. Moore.. 2,256 Labrador. 868 Wanderer.. 400 Pioneer .. 1,263 ... 1,681 290 90 490 1,092 303 232 417 1,000 378 1,059 569 565 564 145 492 749 838- Borealis , 1,452 Katharine 1,328 Ainoko 2,124 Kate 946' Shelby 411 Venture 909 Walter L. Rich 691 175 92 488 20 2,440 Mountain Chief 175^ Fisher Maid 92 Minnie 679 256 307 427 986 593 327 340 2,153 San Jos6 869 "R"ilTYi -.11* • . . .&• VM333 .*>*!. •.^:-:|vv.:: tf... !;•.•■■• :::;;^:-.-m July 24. •.k::--^.vmmission of Fish and Fisheries. ffOLAV1NA ROOKERY ul Island, Bering Sea, irea occupied hy Fur Seals in 1895, as determined by I H. TOWIlSend, Assistant. Scale ? 528 jftj.-linrh.. 3indies t interval/ approximately 70 ffr. turbedL area, - rruuced, vegetation^. uisturbecU from tun& to time ty seals hcvaZung, or t&wfbr" m> grass. Breeding Grounds. Hauling f kte of examination July ZUr S Doc /<3/.._54 1 MMMliHh rnsmm HH? Zapadnie $ S Doc..A£7-.54 1 KB •%rJP \\ Tuiuling, S boc/cfX-54 1 "M«tfct«>t<*"V i*C? SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 27 THE ROOKERIES IN 1895. LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. U. S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries, Office of the Commissioner, Washington, February 1, 1896. Sir : I have the honor to forward herewith copies of two reports by Mr. C. H. Townsend, naturalist of the United States Fish Commission steamer Albatross, entitled as follows: Report upon the condition of the seal rookeries of the Pribilof Islands, Alaska, in 1895. Eeport on pelagic sealing in 1895. The former is illustrated by 11 charts and 42 photographic views, of which only the charts have been completed, and are now transmitted. The photographs are in course of printing and will be furnished at an early date. Yery respectfully, Herbert A. Gill, Acting Commissioner. The Secretary of the Treasury, Washington, D. G. INTRODUCTION. In the present report are recorded the results of observations made by the writer on the fur-seal rookeries of the Pribilof Islands, Alaska, during the summer of 1895, in continuation of the annual inquiries respecting that subject, beginning with the season of 1892. It is accompanied by 11 charts and 42 photographic views, duplicating those of previous years—the former indicating the outlines of the breeding grounds and those of the hauling grounds in part, the latter illustrating the condition of the more important portions of each rookery at the height of the breeding season. The stations from which the photographs were taken are the same as those previously occupied for that purpose, while the dates of both the charts and photographs correspond as closely with those of preceding years as the conditions of weather permitted or other circumstances, explained below, made advisable. PRIBILOF ISLANDS. The steamer Albatross first reached St. Paul Island, of the Pribilof group, on June 24,1895, being then en route to the Commander Islands, Siberia, and remained at the former place until noon of the 26th. Mr. F. W. True, curator of mammals in the United States National Museum, together with an assistant, was landed on St. Paul Island for the purpose of making a series of independent observations respecting the rookeries, as was also Mr. K B. Miller, assistant on the Albatross, the latter being provided with the necessary outfit for beginning upon the season's photographic work in case of any unforeseen delay in the return of the ship. 28 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. I spent the 25th and the forenoon of the 26th in going over the rookeries of Lukannon, Ketavie, Beef, Lagoon, and Tolstoi. Female seals were scarce, none being observed oft any of the rookeries at a distance of more than 50 or 60 feet from high-water mark, although the usual rookery area was occupied by bulls. The harems in course of formation along the beaches were as yet very small, the average number of females to each being five. About one-fourth of the females were nursing newborn pups, the others being conspicuously gravid. Some sections of rookery ground were still covered with snow and a number of new-born young with the red placental still attached were lying upon the snow. Occasional females were noticed arriving from the sea, but none were seen leaving. There were no signs of any then coming into heat. A hasty count by harems of females and young at two favorable points resulted as follows: Lukannon.—10 females,5 pups; 2 females, 1 pup; 15 females,2 pups; 4 females, 1 pup; 9 females, 4 pups; 9 females, 3 paps. Ketavie.—14 females, 6 pups; 6 females, 1 pup; 8 females, 2 pups; 7 females, 4 pups; 10 females, 3 pups; 10 females, 2 pups; 8 females, 3 pups; 5 females, 1 pup. The hauling grounds were fairly well occupied. A drive was made from Beef rookery on the morning of the 25th, about 1,200 being killed. At 1 p. m. the rejected seals had in large part returned to Zoltoi Keck, from which they had been driven, and were hauled out nearly all the way across. A drive of about 1,000 seals from Polavina rookery was made on the 26th, from which about 700 were killed. COMMANDER ISLANDS. The Albatross sailed at noon on June 26 for Bering Island, Siberia, where we arrived on July 3. Dr. Leonhard Stejneger, curator in the United States National Museum, was landed lor the season, in order to study the condition of the seal rookeries and the habits of the Commander Island seals, respecting which he made an important series of observations during the years 1882 and 1883. The 4th was spent in visiting North rookery, 12 miles distant from Nikolski village, the trip being made on dog sleds furnished by Governor Grebnitzky. Although the weather was not clear, I succeeded in making highly satisfactory panoramas of the rookery, which lies in two sections, separated by a space of about three-fourths of a mile. The rookery is located at Yushin Point at the extreme northern end of the island. The larger section of the rookery occupies a flat, reef-like peninsula, the smaller being on the beach to the south westward. Very few bachelors were present, and these were scattered so close to the breeding seals that distinct hauling grounds were not apparent. The breeding seals were very densely packed upon their respective areas, a large portion of the females having brought forth their young. The latter were beginning to collect into groups by themselves^ and the females were rapidly coming in heat. North rookery, the most important of the four rookeries on the Commander Islands, I estimated to be of about the same size and importance as Tolstoi rookery on the Pribilof Islands. With but one other rookery approaching it in size, it is evident that the seal fishery of the Commander Islands is of very moderate value as compared with that ■of the Pribilof Islands, while it is certain that there is at present no such supply of seals as would be necessary for the maintenance of the large fleet of vessels now operating upon this herd during its migra-; tions between Bering Sea and the coast of Japan. UJJUUJJ SEAL LIFE ON THE FJRIBILOF ISLANDS. 29 The positions where seals were taken by pelagic sealers during the season of 1895 in the waters adjacent to the Commander Islands were> for the most part to the eastward, southward, and westward of the islands, within a radius of 100 miles, the catch of one vessel having been made off Cape Nagikinsky, 200 miles to the northwest. The data are derived from the log books of 5 American vessels whose catches aggregate 714 seals, taken between July 5 and September 4. In the year 1892 the schooner Henry Dennis made a catch of 563 seals between July 2 and August 28 in these waters, all seals being taken within 170 miles of the islands. The sex of seals taken is not stated. The total number of seals obtained by the combined Canadian and American fleets off the Bussian coast during the season was 7,648, the positions where seals were taken by Canadian vessels not being at hand. During the season of 1895 a sealing fleet numbering 45 vessels took 38,732 seals belonging to the Commander Islands herd, along the coasts of Japan and Bussia. To this number should be added the catch made by a small fleet of a dozen or more vessels belonging to Japan, of which we have received no record. The Japan and Bussian catch for the season is considered small, and would have been unprofitable but for a shortage in the total pelagic catch and a consequent advance m the price of seal skins. PRIBILOF ISLANDS. The Albatross returned to St. Paul Island on July 9, when I took up my quarters on shore for the season. Besuming the observations left off in June, the rookeries of Lukannon, Ketavie, Lagoon, Tolstoi, and a portion of Beef rookery were examined very minutely and the breeding females occupying them carefully counted. This work, with brief visits to all the other rookeries, occupied the time until the 16th, when Ketavie and Lukannon rookeries were visited for chart data. On the 17th we went to St. George Island, where all the rookeries were photographed and their areas platted on the charts during the 18th and 19th. Beturning to St. Paul Island on the 20th, the chart and photographic work was taken up and pushed rapidly to completion, the charts being finished on the 24th and the photographic series on the 27th. From this date until August 9 I was engaged in making natural his>- tory observations on the rookeries, and in setting up artificial landmarks to outline the present limits of the rookeries and serve as guides for their delineation in future. The latter work consisted in painting on suitable bowlders, in white lead, large crosses (-f) that would be conspicuous from the photographic stations, and would appear in the panoramas that might be made hereafter. These crosses, placed on Northeast Point, Polavina, Beef, Tolstoi, and Upper Zapadnie rookeries, on St. Paul Island, and on Zapadnie rookery on St. George Island, were located with reference to the limits of the breeding grounds or the points where seals were massed. On Northeast Point rookery four crosses, visible from Station 5, mark the rear limits of the principal masses of seals. On Polavina rookery four crosses mark the limits—two on each side of Station G. On Beef rookery five crosses from stations 17 to 18, mark limits or masses. On Tolstoi rookery five crosses mark limits. On Upper Zapadnie rookery six crosses mark limits or masses. 30 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. On Zapadnie (St. George Island) a cross marks the extreme western end of the rookery. It seems advisable to have these artificial landmarks extended to some of the other rookeries and located on their respective charts. Photographic Station G, on Polavina, was marked F by mistake and should be corrected. Photographic Station 5, on Northeast Point, was appropriately marked. CONDITION OF ROOKERIES IN 1895 AS SHOWN BY CHARTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS. The changes that have taken place in the rookeries since July, 1894, are so marked that their depleted condition in July, 1895, is in general apparent upon comparison of the charts and photographs covering the two seasons. The usual number of seals not having appeared at the customary time of commencing the photographic work, the latter was purposely delayed in order that the ground might have ample time to fill up, the dates at which the photographs were made being mostly a week later than in 1894. Even after the slight spreading of the breeding seals that takes place as the season advances, the grounds were not at any time during 1895 occupied by their usual numbers of seals. Bookeries, or breeding grounds, strictly speaking, are the tracts within the limits of which young seals are brought forth, being perfectly distinct areas as contrasted with those over which they spread of their own accord somewhat later. The "spreading" which results from the swelling of the rookeries by the birth of thousands of young was scarcely perceptible during the season of 1895, the limited number of adults on the rookeries making it unnecessary for the animals to scat* ter to the usual distances from the beaches. Many old breeding males occupied their former positions in the rear of the rookeries,but remained alone, or with but two or three females during the season, their harems having been absorbed by harems nearer the beach and not permitted to pass back* Many of the branches of rookeries formerly extending well back of the breeding grounds at favorable points where the seala lie in masses have this year been absorbed into the main body of breed* ing seals. These changes are shown in the photographs of some of the rookeries and are represented on the charts. In many narrow rookeries stretched along beaches where the number of seals is not great, changes caused by a decrease in seal life are not of such a character as to be apparent in photographs until actual breaks occur. All such rookeries confined to narrow beach slopes are now thinned out to the verge of breaking apart in many places. They no longer overlap on to the level ground usually found above the slopes, and the surplus of male seals derived from their adjacent hauling grounds is no longer of any importance. Breaks which occur in rookeries are always carefully noted, as they are sure indications of decrease in the seal life of rookeries heretofore continuous. Certain thin sections as observed in 1894 indicated breaks likely to follow further decrease in seal life. As a result of the heavy loss of female and young seals caused by pelagic sealing in Bering Sea in 1894, many of the predicted breaka actually occurred in 1895» The destruction of a much larger number of females and young, through the operations of the sealing fleet in Bering Sea in 1895, will cause a reduction in the class of breeding seals next season, amounting practically to the loss of continuity in all the thin rookeries on the islands and rendering the business of pelagic sealing unprofitable. ^.-•jgWw^TV? SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 31 The thinning out of the breeding seals and the consequent recedence of the breeding limits toward the beaches is followed by the encroachment of grass upon, the bare ground but recently occupied by seals. Attention is called to a series of photographs taken annually which are illustrative of this feature. It is impossible to represent satisfactorily the decrease of the rookeries by photographs or charts. The former are limited in number and have frequently to be taken from unfavorable points, while the reduction of a great tract more or less occupied by seals to the limits of a small photograph is often misleading except to those familiar with the ground. The case of the charts is similar, the changes in extensive areas of land not being impressive when indicated upon charts of small scale. Special attention is called, however, to the large panoramas taken from Stations 5,17, and G, showing the large rookeries of Northeast Point, Polavina, and Beef. In all of these very comprehensive views the decrease in the number of seals and the withdrawal of the breeding- limits toward the sea front is apparent. ST. PAUL ISLAND. Northeast Point rookery.—The thin patches of seals upon each side of Sea Lion Point are reduced in numbers and area. From station 6 to the point two important breaks occur at points opposite the marshes. From the point to Station 5 the rookery has visibly narrowed and the seals have decreased in numbers. From Hutchinson Hill one of the most important changes of the year is visible. The photograph from Station 5 shows the wide rookery ground to be narrower than ever before. At only one point were young seals born as far back as the base of the hill. At Station 4 the change is amply shown by the photograph, which, although taken eleven days later than in 1894, shows no indication of seals spreading to their former limits. South of Station 4 the seals for the first time failed to cover an important tract extending back in the direction of Hutchinson Hill. This is shown in the photograph from Station 3. The animals usually somewhat massed at this point have found room upon the immediate beach slope. From Station 3 to Station 1 the breeding seals are confined to the narrow beach slope, very difficult of examination. Here the rookery is exceedingly thin, which is indicated to a slight degree in rather unsatisfactory photographs. The decrease in the number of seals at this great rookery since 1894 is very marked. Polavina rookery.—The main rookery, situated on a comparatively level tract, is shrunken perhaps 50 per cent in dimensions, and at no point extends back to the limits of 1894. The small communities occupying the ledges under the cliffs north of the point were much reduced in numbers, and with the exception of a few stragglers did not overlap on the plateau above. The photograph of the main rookery, taken at short range, shows the breeding line to have receded toward the beach, while the level ground at the left remained unoccupied. Another view from Station 21, at still shorter range, shows a loss of seals from the foreground and extreme background. At Little Polavina rookery the branches of the rookery extending- back on the plateau have been absorbed, while the remnant along the cliff is thinned and lies in patches. Foggy weather prevented satisfactory photographic work. Lukannon rookery.—The breeding line here was drawn somewhat lower than usual, and at no time during the season were the seals 32 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. hauled back to the customary limits. For the first time during my observations of this ground no young were born on the hill above Station 12. Photograph 26 is useless for comparison, the breeding seals being altogether in the dim background to the left. The eastern two- thirds of Lukannon rookery was counted on July 12; it contained 1,840 females. Ketavie rookery.—Now thinner than ever before. It is broken apart in many places. All the young born this season were on the lower ledges, and there was no seasonal spreading back whatever. The ground is easily commanded, and a careful count was made. There were only 2,070 females between Station 12 and Ketavie Point. Photograph 13 shows a reduced tract, with bulls in the rear that were unable to form harems in 1895. The other photographs of Ketavie show a •decrease. Beef rookery.—A comparison of the charts and photographs of thi$ ground for the seasons of 1894 and 1895 will show in a measure the change for the worse that has taken place. Photograph 16 shows the recedence of seals on the hill slope toward the water's edge. Photograph 17 shows a recedence toward the sea and a very distinct decrease. The great extent of this panorama is more graphically indicated on the •chart (east of Station 17). No. 18 shows t}ie recedence of the seal belt resulting from diminished numbers and the consequent isolation of old bulls on, breeding ground no longer reached by females. Nq. 19 shows 2b recedence from the higher ground. No. 20 shows a reduction and a recedence toward the water. The photograph of the grass area on this rookery is especially interesting as proving the rapidity with which grass takers possession of ground which a few years back was teeming with seals. This area, devoid of grass in July, 1892, wa,s selected and marked at that time for aunual observation. Being now well grass- grown, as the photograph proves, it is valuable as showing the rapidity with which grass grow$ on ground recently vacated by seals, a fact denied at some length by the British Bering Sea commissioners (see British Counter Case, Fur Seal Arbitration, Ex. Doc. 177, part S, p. 504). Not only has the area marked by cairns become grass-grown, but the entire tract between the rookeries is now a continuous meadow eovered with weeds and flowers. Lagoon rookery.—Here there has been a perceptible shrinkage at the ends. The photograph shows how the west end is breaking apart into small harems. This long and thin rookery may be expected to illustrate next season the damage that will surely result from the past season's loss of females and young. When counted on July 11, the whole area contained 1,268 female seals. Tolstoi rookery.—This rookery has diminished very perceptibly. Photograph F shows that the seals no longer ascend the hill and surround the large bowlder on the extreme left, while photograph 11 shows a thinning out in the foreground and a recedence from the left end. Allowance should be made for a change in the shape of the bay itself, a hundred feet or more of sand having filled in the bight at the left end of the rookery. A pencil line on photograph 11 shows the true bearing of the camera. The number of female seals along the narrow beach from the dotted line toward the point at the right (see photograph 11) was 1,520 on July 11,1895. Lower Zapadnie.—Photograph 7 is too dim for comparison. Photograph 7a, although made at long range, indicates a decrease. In photograph 8a, the camera having been wrongly placed, comparison with the preceding year is unfavorable, but diminished numbers are indicated. Lower Zapadnie is greatly reduced since 1894. SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 33 Upper Zapadnie.—The view from Station 8 is too distant for satisfactory comparison, but reduced lumbers are apparent. In photographs 9 and 10 it will be noticed that some old bulls in the rear of the rookeries were unable to form harems, and in photograph 10 the continuity of the patch of seals near the sea is broken. In general there has been a shrinkage in territory and a marked reduction in numbers. ST. GEORGE ISLAND. North rookery.—Photograph 2 illustrates, on a small scale, the absorption of the small harems in the rear into the main body of the rookery nearer the sea—the result of lessened numbers. This ground, when counted July 18, contained 110 females. Little East rookery.—There is here a decrease and a shrinkage in area, indicated to some extent in the photograph. East rookery.—A very perceptible reduction in numbers. Starry Arteel rookery.—A great reduction in numbers, with consequent abandonment of the high ground in the rear. Zapadnie rookery.—The change here is shown on the chart. The rookery has diminished in numbers and extent. The present condition of the rookery is well shown by a new photograph from Station H. List of the charts showing the outlines of the rookeries on the Pribilof Islands, July, 1895. ST. PAUL ISLAND. Northeast Point rookery July 24, Chart A Polavina rookery July 24, Chart B Ketavie and Lukannon rookeries July 16, Chart C Reef and Garbotch rookeries July 21, Chart D Tolstoi and Lagoon rookeries July 23, Chart E Zapadnie and English Bay rookeries July 20, Charts F and GIST. GEORGE ISLAND. Starry Arteel rookery July 19, Chart H North rookery July 18, Chart I East and Little East rookeries July 18, Chart J Zapadnie rookery July 19, Chart K IAst of the photographs of the seal rookeries on the Pribilof Islands iaken in July, 1895, by N. B. Miller and C. H. Townsend, showing the dates on which they were made. ST. GEORGE ISLAND. Starry Arteel rookery July 18 (N. B.M.) North rookerv July 18 (N.B.ltf.) Little East rookery July 18 (N.B.M.) East rookery July 18 (N.B.M.) Zapadnie rookery July 19 (C.H.T.) ST. PAUL ISLAND. Northeast Point; rookery July 24 (C.H. T.) Little Polavina rookery July 24 (C.H.T.) Polavina rookery July 26 (N.B.M.) Lukannon rookery July 20 (N. B. M.) Ketavie rookery July 20 (N.B.M.) Reef rookery July 20 (N. B. M.) Lagoon rookery July 27 (C.H.T.) Tolstoi rookery July 24 (N.B.M.) Lower Zapadnie rookery July 20 (C.H. T.) Zapadnie rookery July 20 (C. H. T.) S. Doc. 137, pt. 2 3 34 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. NUMBER OF BREEDING FEMALES ON THE ISLANDS. Upon the return of the Albatross to the Pribilof Islands on July 9, 1895, a general examination of the rookeries was made. Some of the narrower breeding grounds were so thinly covered with seals that it seemed quite possible to count them. Accordingly, Mr. True and I began on Ketavie rookery and on the 9th and 10th succeeded in taking a satisfactory census. The harems seemed full and well defined, no coalescing having begun, and they were therefore counted separately. This work was continued with Lagoon rookery and portions of Tolstoi, Lukannon, and Reef rookeries, where female seals were counted as follows: Ketavie, 2,218; Lukannon, 1,940; Lagoon, 1,216; Tolstoi, 1,539; Heef, 566. The whole number counted was 7,479. Narrow places limited to the beach slope, like Lagoon rookery, were not difficult to count from a boat when the sea was smooth, while no trouble was encountered in doing the same with thin rookeries that could be viewed from low cliffs. The value of the data secured can not be overestimated, it being the first time that rookeries were found sufficiently reduced in the number of breeding females to admit of their numbers being determined with any degree of precision. Although these rookeries may not have quite reached their breeding height, they were so near to it that the corrections to be applied are unimportant. With a very fair set of figures for the extensive area thus examined, we are able to form a more accurate estimate of the number of breeding females on the Pribilof Islands than ever before. Adopting the scale of the rookery charts prepared by Mr. J. Stanley-Brown (264 feet to 1 inch) we find the 7,479 seals counted to be distributed over 7.05 acres, making 1,061 seals to the acre. The remaining area occupied by seals has been computed at 54.47 acres, as based upon the rookery ground delineated on the charts for 1895. The result is a total of 65,239 breeding females for all the rookeries of the two islands. Some corrections might be applied for certain tracts on Eeef, Tolstoi, and Northeast Point rookeries, where the seals always lie more or less massed, but I can not admit that there were between July 10 and 15 more than 75,000 breeding females present upon the islands. There is also a correction to be applied for a moderate number of females not on the rookeries at the time the breeding females were being counted. As the season was backward, and the females later than usual in arriving, their appearance was made en masse, so it is altogether probable that the number of absentees was not important. From the 10th to the 15th of July the rookeries were filled with females that had just brought forth their young. They had not noticeably begun going to sea to feed, and at no other time were so many coming in heat. It is altogether unlikely that any very important number of females could have been away from the rookeries at a time when the females were still in excess of young. Mr. True found the percentage of young to be 62 on July 9, while on July 20 the young were everywhere in excess of females. Later in the season 50 per cent, at least, of the females were customarily absent from the rookeries. 00& rA1 -s. ■. SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 35 Census of Ketavie rookery, by harems, from North End to Ketavie Point, on July 9 and 10. [The numbers indicate breeding females in each harem.] 14 34 75 42 1 1 10 37 14 3 7 1 1 3 14 8 32 22 2 18 15 12 1 4 88 13 14 24 27 10 60 5 5 9 31 12 12 22 11 13 40 13 6 26 28 35 17 15 25 21 10 16 11 34 5 1 21 3 27 10 8 52 1 2 27 10 13 2 22 5 8 1 18 15 43 29 13 10 18 55 23 5 50 9 1 1 4 16 34 1 24 47 21 21 29 3 9 10 3 1 28 13 17 12 145 15 13 2 10 2 43 13 23 20 64 8 16 6 23 Whole number of breeding females 2, 218 Whole number of harems 119 Average females to harem 18 ■ Census of Lagoon rookery, by harems, on July 10. [The numbers indicate breeding females in each harem.] 8 32 18 2 19 4 5 31 19 16 9 20 31 24 1 15 2 20 1 20 38 16 8 26 23 35 16 6 3 12 12 16 4 28 4 23 6 7 67 1 4 41 37 7 67 14 9 14 20 2 16 21 4 42 48 4 26 1 25 4 1 4 1 7 39 3 10 4 18 15 1 8 1 3 24 16 22 10 25 41 Whole number of breeding females , 1,216 Whole number of harems * 80 Average females to harem 15+ Census of Tolstoi rookery, by harems, from the Point to end of Grass Bluff, on July 11. [The numbers indicate breeding females in each harem.] 7 9 12 7 8 15 4 14 3 10 8 16 20 12 24 13 10 12 1 1 1 4 16 16 15 31 18 17 15 1 1 10 9 6 1 13 20 15 10 34 8 19 15 1 11 18 26 4 20 1 29 3 14 3 2 25 16 3 26 28 2 9 24 27 1 11 45 8 • 7 1 45 4 20 42 6 1 21 5 2 29 1 6 11 1 1 9 1 22 51 17 15 3 32 3 37 25 6 23 15 5 18 5 47 24 11 18 10 31 13 31 1 4 1 Whole number of breeding females 1, 539 Whole number of harems 113 Average females to harem 13+ Census of Lukannon rookery, by harems, from bluff to ledge of flat rooks, on July 12. [The numbers indicate breeding females in each harem.] 26 35 13 12 3 10 9 5 39 18 27 1 5 51 5 16 9 55 1 9 14 27 31 6 26 9 21 3 48 35 44 46 14 16 34 1 2 54 17 40 1 19 2 68 25 10 17 40 8 11 32 6 21 45 7 10 1 68 30 24 45 70 22 53 7 18 21 16 12 3 38 62 28 3 21 9 5 2 3 35 5 2 36 13 13 11 . 19 12 74 Whole number of breeding females 1,940 Whole number of harems 89 Average females to harem 21+ He iiriifini 36 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Census, by harems, of a portion of Beef rookery, below bluff north of Station 19, on July 15. [The numbers indicate breeding females in each harem.] 12 9 4 14 10 9 2 4 4 31 16 37 7 25 8 13 11 14 9 16 90 74 16 9 14 1 55 5 21 1 20 14 1 Whole number of breeding females 566 Whole number of harems 33 Average females to harem 17 Whole number of breeding females counted on Ketavie, Lukannon, Tolstoi, JLagoon, and Reef rookeries 7,479 Whole number of harems 434 Average females to harem 17+ RESTORATION OF THE ROOKERIES. With the number of breeding females in the Pribilof seal herd diminished to about 75,000 in July, 1895, and this number further reduced by the pelagic loss of August and September (certainly not less than 30,000 females out of the catch of nearly 44,000), we have remaining a very limited breeding stock, and yet, notwithstanding this circumstance, if absolute protection can be guaranteed to the seals without delay and for a term of years,* the stock is still large enough to insure a comparatively rapid restoration of the rookeries. If there be no further loss of females during the present winter by sealing on the Northwest Coast, we may fully expect to find the rookeries in 1896 occupied by the present number of breeding females, about 45,000, together with several thousand 3-year-old females that will then become breeders. It is exceedingly difficult to calculate the increase of 3-year- old breeding females for that time, there being no record of the proportion of 2 and 3 year old females lost during the pelagic sealing of the past two seasons. It is evident that the loss of over 50,000 pups in 1894-95 will result in a poor showing of breeding females in 1897-98. Supposing, however, that the existing breeding females, with their female progeny, were secured against destruction in future, the restoration of the rookeries would be certain, and the rate of increase mor» rapid from year to year. The following table showing the increase in seal life that would naturally result from the complete protection of females is based upon the natural-history facts that they breed annually from the third year and produce both sexes in equal numbers. The loss from natural causes, such as old age, injuries received on the rookeries, killer whales, etc., is probably unimportant. Assuming a breeding class of 50,000 seals in 1896, there is shown an increase to nearly half a million in ten years, while at the end of twenty years the breeding females alone number over 6,500,000. The annual increase of young males would be equal to the annual increase of young females, or to half the breeding females. A very small proportion of these being required for breeding purposes, this class would practically be available annually as a surplus. Not only do seals breed early in life, and with great regularity, but they return to their breeding grounds with a faithfulness which demonstrates the security they feel there. The seal rookeries of the Pribilof Islands can, therefore, unquestionably be restored, and at a known ratio of increase. These figures! may appear startling, but they are founded on simple natural-history facts. * Y£** /S37 /B36 /8S3 1200 1901 /902 1903 /904 I90S X *, ••••-BVWfes.V' ones SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 37 Table showing the increase in seal life that would naturally result from the complete protection of the females. Year. Breeding females 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900.... 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905.... 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 191H 1914 1915 1916 1, 1, 1, 2 2, 3, 4, 50, 000 50, 000 50, 000 50, 000 75, 000 100, 000 125. 000 162, 500 212, 500 275, 000 356, 250 462, 500 600, 000 778,125 009,375 309, 375 689,437 194,124 848, 811 693, 529 790, 591 Annual increase of young females. 1. 1 I 2, 2, 25, 000 25, 000 25, 000 37, 500 50,000 62, 500 81, 250 106, 250 137,500 178,125 231, 250 300, 000 389. 062 504, 687 654,687 844, 718 097, 062 424,405 846, 764 395, 295 818, 677 Annual increase of breeding females. Total breeding females. (a) (a) (a) 25, 000 25,000 25,000 37, 500 50,000 62,500 81,250 106,250 137, 500 178,000 231,250 300, 000 389, 062 504, 687 654, 887 844, 718 1, 097, 062 1, 846, 764 75, 000 100, 000 125, 000 162, 500 212,500 275,000 356, 250 462, 500 600, 000 778,125 | 009, 375 1,309,375 1, 689, 437 2,194,124 2, 848, 811 3, 693, 529 4, 790, 591 6, 637,355 a Available as breeders at third year. LOSS OF YOUNG SEALS BY STARVATION. The steamer Albatross having left Bering Sea in 1895 somewhat earlier than usual, I did not visit the rookeries on the Pribilof Islands in September to repeat the observations made by me at the same season in 1894, respecting the loss of young seals resulting from pelagic sealing. Arrangements were made, however, with the resident Treasury agents for a full and explicit report as to the extent of the damage that was certain to result from the presence of a large sealing fleet in Bering Sea during the breeding season. Such report, recently forwarded by Messrs. Adams and Judge, the resident agents of the Treasury Department in charge, gives the number of dead pups upon each rookery to October 10, the total loss of young seals for both islands up to that time amounting to 28,066. Many weak and emaciated pups were observed on all the rookeries, and these have doubtless since died. Pup seals are very fat and can not be killed by starvation in less than a month's time. Although many thousands of young seals were lost by starvation in September and October. 1894, on account of sealing done in August, I found no dead pups until after September 1. From that time on, the death of the young was continuous. The following summation of the loss for 1895 is accompanied by affidavits as to the correctness of the counts made: Loss of young seals on the Pribilof Islands by starvation resulting from the killing of female seals in Bering Sea in 1895. [Count in full to October 10, 1895". J ST. PAUL ISLAND. Ketavie rookery 857 Lukannon rookery 1, 347 Lagoon rookery 300 Polavina rookery 1, 970 Garboteh rookery 1,514 Reef rookery 3, 376 Upper Zapadnie rookery 5, 231 Lower Zapadnie rookery 381 Tolstoi rookery 2,582 Northeast Point rookery 4, 017 Sea Lion Rock rookery 361 Total 22,054 ST. GEORGE ISLAND. Zapadnie rookery , North rookery Starry Arteel rookery East rookery Little East rookery 2,083 Total. 1,559 1,131 986 253 6,012 22,054 Grand total 28,066 1 iiaHBaiiBaasEaS 38 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Twenty dead bulls and 101 dead females were found on St. Paul Island during the season of 1895, 3 of the latter having spear points and lines attached. The total number of seals taken in Bering Sea during the season by the pelagic sealing fleet was 43,697. There can be no doubt that at least 75 per cent of those were breeding females, the death of which would necessarily involve the loss of over 32,000 young. The proportion of the sexes represented in the season's catch, as reported by the sealing fleet, is untrustworthy, judging from our experience with reports of this kind in the past and from what we know at present of the actual conditions. RECOMMENDATIONS RESPECTING THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Having already questioned the propriety of the driving and culling of seals by the lessees upon the islands, it is unnecessary to repeat the arguments against the practice. No further culling should be permitted. It would be preferable to kill a larger quota consisting of several grades of skins, taking all that might be driven, rather than to continue the selection of a single grade necessitating the excessive handling of the animals now practiced. Should a sealing fleet be present in Bering Sea during the season of 1896, the removal of all surplus males, except yearlings and large bulls, would be desirable. While increasing the quota of Government skins and lowering the value of the pelagic catch, it would also have the effect of limiting the pelagic catch entirely to females. The number of females is now so limited that no profit will be found in taking them at sea, where they will be so scattered as to discourage pelagic sealers and to some extent shorten the season of their operations. Another method, suggested by Mr. F. W. True, of reducing the pelagic catch to an appreciable degree might be found in retaining all non- breeding males upon the islands after August 1. Commencing about the 20th of July, all males appearing upon the hauling grounds, and rejected from the drives, could be placed in the larger inland lakes and held captive there for six weeks or more. A solution of the pelagic sealing question might be found in the branding of nursing females in such a manner as would destroy the value of skins, while the question of property recognition upon the high seas might be well worth raising. Any action on the part of the authorities directed toward the killing of female seals on the rookeries, for any purpose whatsoever, would be deplorable. Nothing can justify the destruction of the source of supply of anything useful to mankind. REPORT ON PELAGIC SEALING IN 1895. The following report embraces the results of observations made at sea between August 9 and 30, 1895, in connection with the fishery investigations of the Fish Commission steamer Albatross, and subsequently at Victoria, British Columbia, Seattle and Port Townsend, Wash., between September 25 and October 18. The work at sea consisted in boarding such vessels as were met with for the purpose of making inquiries as to the number of seals taken, the positions where taken, their sex, age, food, etc. The perfecting of United States customs regulations providing for the collecting of sealing data by American vessels left comparatively little work to be done at sea. The examination of a considerable num- •»»'^**W'W<»vrfs WHKl {JJJJ. SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 39 ber of carcasses of fur seals procured from sealing vessels during the month of August indicated that the species breed annually from the third year. It also yielded information on the sex of seals taken at sea and the character of their food, which appears to be pollock, squid, small fishes, and other surface life chiefly. Upon the return of the Albatross to Puget Sound, I began boarding the vessels of the sealing fleet as fast as they returned. The catch for the year on the different sealing grounds was ascertained, and a number of log books kept during former sealing voyages and containing information on the seasonal migrations of the fur seal were collected. During the months of August and September, 1895, there were engaged in sealing in Bering Sea 39 Canadian and 18 American vessels, the former making a catch of 35,773, and the latter a catch of 7,924 seals. During the same period in 1894 a fleet of 38 vessels took 31,542 seals, while the total Bering Sea catch for 1895 (43,697 seals) required a fleet of 57 vessels, making a lower average per vessel, although a comparison of the log books of the American fleet for the two seasons shows the sealing weather to have averaged better in 1895, seals having been taken every day during the month of August. The total number of Canadian and American vessels that engaged in pelagic sealing during the year was 96. The catch of seals from the Pribilof herd was 55,664, and that from the Bussian herd 38,738, the total being 94,396. Less than one-third of the entire catch was made by American vessels, while the proportion of the American catch in Bering Sea is comparatively insignificant, the bulk of the American catch for the year having been made on the Japan coast. The operations of the sealing fleet in Bering Sea in 1895 were in the same locality as in 1894, the catch as a whole having been made southeast, south, southwest, and west of the Pribilof Islands, outside the protected zone. The sealing ground, platted upon a map prepared from positions obtained from a large number of sealing vessels, appears as a nearly semicircular belt about 60 miles in width, commencing to the northwestward of the Pribilofs and extending southward and eastward around the protected area, widening somewhat toward the southeastward limit, where seals were taken nearer the Aleutian Islands. The condition of the American seal herd is now very critical. Should no changes be made during the present winter affecting the work of the great pelagic sealing fleet, the herd breeding on the Pribilof Islands will, by reason of sealing in Bering Sea during the coming season, be reduced to a comparatively insignificant size, so small, at least, as to ruin the seal fishery commercially at sea as well as upon land. At a meeting of Canadian sealers recently held at Victoria it was decided that but one cruise be made during the year 1896, that to be in Bering Sea. The Northwest coast catch for the spring of 1895 proved unprofitable, but one vessel having made expenses, while the catch in Japanese and Bussian waters was made barely remunerative by reason of an advance in the price of seal skins. This action on the part of the sealers is clearly the result of diminished catches. It is now evident to all persons interested in the pelagic sealing industry that further profit can not be expected from sealing in the ^orth Pacific. That the sealing fleet as a whole after one more season's work in Bering Sea will be out of employment can not be doubted. The condition of the seal herd breeding upon the Commander Islands is similar to that of the American herd. With the inauguration of the 7 40 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. restrictions of the modus vivendi, the destructive operations of the pelagic sealing fleet, so long directed chiefly against the American herd, were suddenly transferred to the .Russian herd, and from that time its decimation has been rapid, the slaughter extending annually, from the latitude of Yokohama, in winter, to within 30 miles of the Commander Islands, in summer. The catch for 25 Canadian vessels in 1895 was 18,686 skins, as compared with a catch of 56,430 skins in 1894 by the same number of Canadian vessels. The total pelagic catch from the Bussian herd for 1895 was only 38,732 as compared with a catch of about 82,000 in 1894. a • a A minute inspection of the rookeries on the Commander Islands during the past season revealed such a reduction in the breeding portion of the seal herd as to render immediate restrictions on pelagic sealing necessary, if anything more than a mere nucleus of the Bussian herd is to be preserved. PROPORTION OF SEXES IN THE PELAGIC CATCH. This subject having been commented upon very fully in the report for 1894, farther discussion as to the proportion of male and female seals killed by pelagic sealing seems unnecessary. Sealers detecting the danger of restrictions that might follow a discovery of the great preponderance of females in pelagic catches have in numerous cases misrepresented the facts. American inspectors of seal skins have found the reports made by masters of sealing vessels on this point to be subject to correction in cases too numerous to mention. There being no official inspection of the Canadian catch, the reports of masters are necessarily accepted for record. Canadians are the chief offenders, American sealers having in mind the customs inspections that accompany the lauding of their catches. The American catch is reported (witji custom-house corrections) to consist of three times as many females as males, no vessel reporting more males than females. The Canadian returns represent the numbers as more nearly equal, no official inspection of catches being made, although 11 vessels state their catches as chiefly male. The following examples illustrate the differences usually found between the reports made by masters of vessels and those made by inspectors of seal skins: Vessel. Males. Females. Schooner Ecrett: Master's report' 65 9 39 20 76 35 13 5 83 33 34 Official examination 90 Schooner Deeahks: Master's report 43 Official exam i ii at ion .... 62 Schooner Bering Sea: M flflt Ar'a report ..,.. ••>.. .. ^ *.,. 104 Official examination 145 Schooner Matilda: Master's report, , ■ .$.... 22 Official examination 35 Schooner Brian d: 82 Official examination 132 Discrepancies were found in nearly all the log books in the fleet. The skins were identified in the presence of the masters and others, who acquiesced in the identification as they were tallied. In all cases :'K"'-ri *S*' SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 41 of uncertainty the master's report was given the benefit of the doubt. As a result of the corrections made in the masters' reports of the spring catch for 1895, the records of the Bering Sea catch, made a few months later, were kept more carefully. There being still considerable misrepresentation, masters of vessels, when licensed for sealing, should be cautioned against making incorrect returns, for which the authorities should accept no excuse. The facts of the case are apparent. The skinning of seals in canoes by Indians makes the tally of the sexes of skins thrown on the decks of sealing vessels after nightfall uncertain^ while the falsity of all statements of a majority of males is self-evident. It could be demonstrated in many ways. Take, for example, the well- known conditions existing on the Pribilof Islands; the breeding males do not leave the islands—in fact, do not enter the water—during the breeding season, while the surplus males resulting from the polygamous nature of the seal have always been in large part removed by annual killings upon the islands. Females must, therefore, necessarily constitute the great bulk of the pelagic catch. Out of a total of 123 seals examined at random by me upon the decks of sealing vessels in Bering Sea during the past season, 106 were females, or five-sixths of the whole number. The starvation of young seals upon the rookeries that follows the operations of the sealing fleet in Bering Sea is also evidence as to the sex of the seals killed. The loss of young seals up to October 10 is reported to be 28,066 by actual count, while many were then found in a dying condition.1 SEX, AGE, PREGNANCY, AND FOOD OF FUR SEALS BERING SEA DURING AUGUST, 1895. TAKEN IN During the cruise of the steamer Albatross on the pelagic sealing grounds in August, 1895, many carcasses of fur seals, obtained from day to day from vessels engaged in sealing, were examined with reference to their age, sex, breeding condition, and food. Such carcasses were readily secured from schooners after the return of the hunting boats, while the evening work of skinning was going on, and all of those obtained were conveyed to the laboratory of the Albatross for dissection and examination. Of a total of 123 so examined in different localities from August 11 to 21, 106 were of female seals. Of the latter number 78 were nursing females, all determinations being based on examinations of mammary glands, uteri, and ovaries. Of the remaining females, 26 in number, 15 were yearlings and 11 were 2 years old. Of the males, 17 in number, 2 were yearlings, 4 were 2 years old, 8 were 3 years old, and 3 were 4 years old. Nearly five-sixths of the whole number being females, and nearly four-fifths of these being females in milk, the heavy drain made by pelagic sealing upon the producing class of seals is apparent. Only one of the 15 yearling females bore signs of recent impregnation, and this one, taken for a yearling on account of its small sizer may have been 2 years old. Four of the 2-year-old females were pregnant, one showing the corpus luteum in the right and the others in the left ovary. The breeding season not being over, the other 2-year-old females may have been impregnated later. A few nursing females not bearing marks of present pregnancy may have been impregnated and 1 As this report goes to press I am officially informed that the sealing schooner Penelope on February 29,1896, entered at San Francisco a catch of 215 seals, of which only 8 were males, all the rest—207—being females. The catch was made from Jan- nary 24 to February 26, between the Farallone Islands and Point Conception, Cal.,. at distances averaging 25 mUes off shore.—C. H. T., March 12, 1896. lAUBBB£2Ki£tiGKB2fi2 42 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. the corpus luteum not yet developed. From these studies, the first of the kind, it would appear that female fur seals are first impregnated at the age of 2 years, and bear their first young at the age of 3. It is also apparent that nursing females are already pregnant when they begin feeding at sea. In all cases in which the condition of the uteri and ovaries could be made out with certainty it was found that pregnancy occurs annually and in the right and left horns of the uterus alternately. Some of the nursing females examined were, from the appearance of their teeth, judged to be very old. These observations, apparently demonstrating a wonderful regularity in the breeding of the seal, are of special importance in calculating the length of time that would be required for the restoration of the Pribilof rookeries if complete protection could be secured for female seals of all classes. Of 123 stomachs of seals examined, 49 were empty or contained merely abdominal worms or bloody mucus. Of 73 with food, 46 contained chiefly squid, 23 pollock or cod, while 4 contained salmon. The majority had mixed with the squid or larger fishes the bones of very small fishes resembling sand lants or tomcod—perhaps the young of pollock or cod. These examinations of seals taken off' soundings at different times and places indicate that seals find plenty of food beyond the great fishing banks { that squid is the favorite food; that pollock and small fishes <3ome next, while salmon and cod rank last, at least in this part of Bering Sea. The catches of seals for 1894 and 1895 were made for the most part off soundings. Table showing the results of observations made on fur seals taken at sea in Bering Seat August 11 to 21, 1895, respecting sex, age, pregnancy, and food. SCHOONER M. M. MORRILL. [Latitude, 55° 12' north; longitude, 170° 25' west. Date, August 11.] s 3 0 •fi © GO Sex. Male... Female ....do. ....do . ....do . ....do. ....do. ....do. ....do . ....do . ....do. ....do . ....do. ....do. do . ....do . do . Ovaries. Age. Uterus, horn showing former pregnancy. Scar resulting from former pregnancy (corpus albicans). Sign of recent impregnation (corpus luteum). Stomach contents. 3 years. 1 year.. 2 years. 1 year.. Nursin do do do do do do do do do do do do g.J Right Right. do do Left Small quantity of small fish and squid. Do. Do. Small quantity of small fish and squid (sand lants?). Small quantity squid beaks. Left Left Right. .do Squid; small fish. Do. Right ; Right Left Two pollock. Left (?) Right Empty. Right Right Left One squid. do do do I Empty. (?) (?) I.....do I Squid. Left do Lost .....do Lost do Right. Right Left Empty. Pollock; squid beaks. Empty. Small fish; squid. Small squid. a Serial number used only where specimens were saved. SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 43 Table showing the results of observations made on fur seals taken at sea in Bering Sea, August 11 to 81, 1895, respecting sex, age, pregnancy, and food—Continued. SCHOONER VERA. [Latitude, 54° 54' north; longitude, 168° 55' west. Date, August 12.] Sex. Age. Uterus, horn showing former pregnancy, Ovaries. Scar resulting from former pregnancy (corpus albicans). Sign of recent impregnation (corpus luteum). Stomach contents. Female do. do . do. lyear , Nursing .. . 2 years . Nursing .. Left Left Right. Right Left Empty. Right Worms. Three squid; small fish. Four squid beaks. SCHOONER ENTERPRISE. [Latitude, 54° 54' north; longitude, 168° 48' west. Date, August 12.] Female .. do ... do ... do ... Male do ... do .. do .. Nursing. 2years Very old. Nursing . 1 year 3 years... 2 years 3 years... Left Right.... do .. (?) Right'! (?) Right Many small squid beaks. Left Squid; very small fish. (?) Do. Left Squid; few small fish. Squid, tentacles 3 inches long. Few squid beaks, pollock. ? Squid; very small fish. One squid; many small fish. SCHOONER MAUD S. [Latitude, 54° 43' north; longitude, 168° 45' west. Date, August 12.] Male do do.... do .... Female... do .... do .... do do do do.... do.... do 2 years.. 3 years. - do .. do .. 2 years. - do .. do .. Nursing Virgin!!. Nursing 2 years.. Right Eight. Left Nursing .. 3 years Right I Right. (?) Right Right. Left Empty. Do. Do. Do. Small squid. Empty. Do. Do. Do. Do. Squid. Bones of pollock; squid beaks. Do. SCHOONER VICTORIA. [Latitude, 55° 21' north; longitude, 167° 49' west. Date, August 20.] .do .do .do do .do .do .do Female... lyear Empty. do Nursing.. Left Left Right Squid, small fish, pollock. do lyear Empty. do do Blood. do Nursing.. Right (?) Right j Squid, small fish, large fish j i (cod). do do Left Left do Squid, small fish, pollock. do 2 years Do. do Nursing.. Left Left Right Blood. do .. do.. do.. do 1 do do I do I Squid; small fish (cod?). do.... Left Left Right Do. lyear Empty. Do. do do do Squid; small fish. do do do Cod. Right Right Left | Empty. do do ., a Serial number used only where specimens were saved. m 44 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Table showing the results of observations made on fur seals taken at sea in Bering Sea, August 11 to 21, 1895, respecting sex, age, pregnancy, and food—Continued. u © a B a •a •r" u 9 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 Sex. Female do . do . do. do. do. do. Male... do . Female do. do. Male Female Male Female do. SCHOONER TRIUMPH. [Latitude, 55° 21' north; longitude, 167° 49' west. Date, August 20.] do... do ... do... do do ... do do ... do ... do do... do... do... do... do... do ... do ... do ... do Male Female -.. do ... do ... Male Female .. do... .....do... Male...... Female .. do Male , Female .. do... do ... do ... do ... Age. 1 year Nursing.. 2 years ... Nursing.. do do.... do.... 2 years ... 4 years ... Nursing.. do.... do.... 2 years Nursing.. 1 year Nursing.. do .... do .... do do.... 2 years Nursing.. lyear Nursing.. do .... do do .... do do 2 years Nursing.. do.... 1 year 2 years Nursing.. 3 years Nursing .. do .... do.... 4 years 1 year Uterus, horn showing former pregnancy. Nursing.. do i years... Nursing . 1 year— 3 years.., Nursing . do.. do ... 1 year. Left Right. .do... .do ... .do ... Left .do ... .do ... Left Ovaries. Scar resulting from former pregnancy (corpus albicans). Sign of recent impregnation (corpus luteum). Stomach contents. Left Right.. do . (?) Right.. Right. Left.. do do do do Lost Left (?) Left Left Lost..... do.. Left do.. Right.. (?) Right.. Right. Right. Right. Left Lost j Lost do do (?) Both.. Left Right. | Left.. Right do Left Left Right. Right Right Left.. Left Left Right. Right Right Left Right(?).J (?) Right Right.. Right. ...do Right. do Right. (?) Right. (?) .do (?) (?) Right.. Left do .1 Left Right. Left.. Right. Nursing Right. Left do (?) Right. Left.. Right. Right. .do .do .do .do .do Left Right. Left.. do Right. .....do Right. Left ... Right.. (!) Left Small-fish bones. Small-nsh bones; squid. Salmon. Small fish. Empty. Do. Pollock (?). Empty. Do. Do. Squid; small fish. Do. Do. Small fish. Empty. Do. Do. Do. Cod(?). Salmon. Squid; small fish. Empty. Do. Do. Do. Salmon, cod. Squid; small fish. Empty. Blood. Empty. Pollock. Empty. Squid. Small squid, worms. Empty. Small fish; squid. Do. Squid. Small fish. Squid, pollock. Empty. Small fish, squid, worms. Empty. Do. Bones of pollock. Empty. Do. Bones of fish. Blood. Pollock bones. Empty. Squid. SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 45 Table showing the results of observations made on fur seals taken at sea in Bering Sea, August 11 to 21, 1895, respecting sex, age, pregnancy, and food—Continued. SCHOONER G. W. PRESCOTT. [Latitude, 55° 33' north; longitude, 168° 11' west. Date, August 21.] 6 Sex. Age. Uterus, horn showing former pregnancy. Ovaries. & 3 ■c Scar resulting from former pregnancy (corpus albicans). Sign of recent impregnation (corpus luteum). Stomach contents. 68 m Female ... do Nursing .. do Left do .... do.... Right do .... do Left j do do (?) Right do Right do do Left do (?) Left Right Left (?) (?) (?) (?) (?) Squid, small fish. Empty. Minute squid beaks, worms. Small squid. Pollock or cod. Empty. Squid, fish bones (pollock ?). Empty. Three cod. 70 do do 71 do .... do . 72 73 do .... do .... do .... do .... do ... do do do do.... do 74 75 76 do .... Left Right do (?) (?) Right do 77 do do Cod or pollock. Cod. 78 do do do .... do .... do .... Left do do do Left 79 do. ...do .. Salmon. 80 do do Cod. 81 do .... do Two cod. Seals examined 123 Male 17 Female 106 Female nursing 78 Female yearling 15 Female 2 years 11 Male yearling 2 Male 2 years 4 Male 3 years 8 Male4years 3 Nursing females 3 years of age or over. Corpus albicans, the scar indicating ovary from which former pregnancy resulted. Corpus luteum, the sign of pregnancy or recent ovulation from that ovary. In these observations only the gross appearance of ovaries.is considered; impregnation may have taken place in all the 2 and 3 year old females, and the corpus luteum not yet developed. LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHS ILLUSTRATIVE OP PELAGIC SEALING. [Photographs by N. B. Miller, C. H. Townsend, and A. B. Alexander.] A portion of the sealing fleet at Sand Point, Alaska, in June, 1893. Canadian sealing schooner E. B. Marvin. Bering Sea. Canadian sealing schooner Annie E. Paint. Bering Sea. Canadian sealing scljooner Dora Siewerd. Bering Sea. Canadian sealing schooner Katherine, formerly Black Diamond. Canadian sealing schooner Dora Siewerd under storm canvas, showing manner of stowing canoes. 1895. Deck of Dora Siewerd. 1895. Skinning seals, Dora Siewerd. 1895. Canadian sealing schooner seized in Bering Sea prior to 1888. Canadian sealing schooner Thornton seized in Bering Sea prior to 1888. Canadian sealing schooner Ainoko discharging skins at Victoria. American sealing schooner Columbia. Types of sealing schooners. Victoria Harbor. 1894. Types of sealing schooners. Victoria Harbor. 1894. A portion of the Canadian sealing fleet, Victoria Harbor. 1894. Sealing boats stored at Victoria. Portion of Indian crew of Canadian schooner Favorite. 1894. Indian hunter of sealing canoe, showing double-pointed spear pole; detaching spear points, with line 30 yards long; paddle; killing club, and wooden boat bailer. Indian sealing canoe, showing manner of throwing spear. Indian sealing canoe under sail. Indian sealing canoe with outfit and catch. Sleeping seal—usual position, floating back down, with hind flippers turned forward over belly. August 7, 1894. Bering Sea. Fur seal just awakened. Starved seal pups, St. Paul Island. September, 1894. Starved seal pups, St. Paul Island. September, 1894. aOHKKiB rri.frTFvrnn-Tim irnrrnf 46 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Pelagic catch of the American sealing fleet for 1895. Hunters. Bering Sea. Japan coast. Russian coast. Northwest coast. Vessel. © •1-1 s 24 5 7 5 8 4 4 6 1 a a M CD © * 06 © © ft o3 O H CO cc © i a © fa m*3 eS ■+3 © co © ■a © p—4 1 s © ft "el © co © t—i eg co © i a © ft eg © Ida Etta 564 591 1,004 484 M. M. Morrill *20" "21* 16 5 20 io 102 20 141 117 212 203 141 165 66 163 291 173 451 323 872 473 188 498 205 381 393 193 592 Allie I. Algar 723 381 Deeahks 20 62 82 ~W. Ainsworth 440 1,084 676 329 663 271 544 340 426 507 472 452 430 289 142 1,180 61 68 33 156 132 224 Stella Erland 165 G. W. Prescott Bering Sea E. E. Webster 1 35 145 180 766 Columbia 153 216 369 IiOois Olsen........ 660 389 350 576 785 637 926 7 8 6 7 7 10 6 7 6 5 6 6 4 8 3 8 96 108 102 113 103 93 44 330 399 390 339 327 196 98 Rattler 225 351 J. Eppinger TTermaTi j Alton 315 589 684 1,112 309 651 1 V^inchester 102 Bowhead 263 421 Jane Grey 43 139 185 S. Sutherland ... 35 264 Mattie Dyer Penelope; 44 on 149 164 208 274 98 Idler 6 5 84 4 9 8 2 9 27 35 30 125 6 40 26 4 90 60 24 41 Matilda 12 11 14 17 17 13 13 20 35 Elsie 209 Puritan 10 Emmett Felitz 1 49 C. C. Perkins .2.... 34 August 6 R. Ecrett 3 3 7 99 Teaser . ... 87 Jessie " 24 Kate and Ann ..... 391 Total il.989 5,935 7,924 12,362 1,079 463 1,151 2,005 Pelagic catch of the Canadian sailing fleet for 1895. Hunters. Bering Sea. Japan coast. Russian coast. Northwest coast. Vessel. © •(-1 .a • CO a H • CO © * 3 co © a © ft 3 +3 0 © 00 9 r—1 e3 a © fa i ■is 0 H 00 © r—1 eS co © ' 1—t 2 a 9 ft 1—1 9 © 3 CO © •a a © ft 1—1 -is 0 H Marv Ellen 20 106 356 462 777 845 190 790 Pioneer............ 24 10 21 14 32 18 197 451 593 750 266 191 159 1,016 669 642 393 575 356 1,467 1,262 1,392 659 766 Iiibbie............. 182 52 284 Agnes McDonald.. Maud S 8 711 185 102 287 Ann1« 15. Paint.... 26 19 21 1,121 798 733 185 470 110 Sadie Turpel Borealis . 1........ 43* 96 862 641 995 737 1,857 ..... 858 Mermaid .......... 24 23 22 1,156 1,056 680 758 562 426 Ocean Belle........ Arietis . ••• 21 288 403 691 159 San Dieero . 17 18 26 25 19 23 29 870 243 434 22 562 851 367 470 15 Mary Taylor C. G-. Cox 128 306 869 .... 176 449 625 906 1,187 1,309 601 1,137 881 TTmbpina . ,.... Casco .......... Viva.. Geneva . ... SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Pelagic catch of the Canadian sailing fleet for 1895—Continued. 47 Vessels. Hunters. B< CO © 1 iring Sea. Japan coast. Russian coast. Northwest coast. © 19 19 18 27 23 w p •rH ■ o a H so © r-H a a © fa a © I 02 © 1 1 © a © fa -f5 © n 1 1 i © a © fa j © l-H cc cc © i—< i EH m fa i ©■■ H Vera Diana Eortuna E. B. Marvin Director Henrietta 177 979 d.lQ 856 872 15 292 219 10 71 Hi 36 25 11 32 24 37 24 26 30 41 22 16 125 317 45 766 603 107 432 238 827 678 479 730 564 186 126 9.51 S7fi 946 300 156 «i a 617 201 1 577 60 n Dora Siewerd 287 216 90 1 91 32 19 503 Victoria 5fifi 1 1R7 187 Labrador 152 364 539 259 796 770 51 Otto 30 285 Penelope .. i%; Sapphire 956 1,783 534 1,212 515 ! 994 812 1,542 594 1,158 597 713 134 33 167 W. L.Rich 14S Ainoko 215 64 216 57 100 41 79 50 325- A. C. Moore 105 E.M.Smith 285 Aurora 107 Mascot Rosie Olsen 7 223 349 787 168 . 627 Oscar and Hattie.. Teresa CD. Rand 9 8 7 6 7 5 24 17 16 21 30 28 18 28 21 20 36 28 14 12 8 16 14 648 335 182 269 947 608 93 460 279 318 927 437 519 1,167 532 | 867 459 i 641 432 701 789 1. 799 : 139 8 147 42 107 152 166 156 60 36 105 102" 143 Saucy Lass Enterprise Beatrice (Shanghai) -Beatrice (Vancouver) 95T 55 921 838 109 316 1,446 202 77fi 74 230^ Pawn 6 6 5 5 7 2 1 3 2 24a Kate 394 fi73 86 95 181 San Jose 251 720 676 569 1,647 1,113 143 Eavorite 150 May Belle 179 45 66 8 6 45 55 20 43 7 33 26 234 Amateur 65 Eisher Maid Kilmeny 109 15 Mountain Chief Pachwellis 39 66 Shelby 10 , 124 Indian canoe catch South Bend Total 3,787 4 10 37 111 148 15,877 19.896 135. 773 18,686 6,605 9,972 SUMMATION OE THE PELAGIC CATCH EOR 1895. Pribilof Islands herd. Commander Islands herd. Grand total. Northwest coast. Bering Sea. Total. Japan coast. Russian coast. Total. Canadian vessels 9,972 2,005 35,773 7,924 45, 745 9,929 18,686 12, 362 6,605 1,079 25,291 13,441 71,036 American vessels .......... 23,370 Total 11,977 43,697 55,674 31,048 7,684 38,732 94,406 i * ii as &» 48 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Table showing number of days during month of August, 1894, when pelagic sealing was earned on in Bering Sea, as indicated by log entries of a majority of the vessels of the sealing fleet. Date. Aug. 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Vessels. Mascot, Borealis, Earle, Eavorite, Rich, Minnie, Etta, and Beatrice. Mascot, Therese, Etta, Triumph, Sapphire, Moore, and Katherine. Mascot, San Jose, Borealis, Earle, Favorite, Rich, Therese, Minnie, Etta, Columbia, Beatrice, and Eawn. Jose, Borealis, Earle, Favorite, Rich, Therese, Minnie, Etta, Columbia, Beatrice, Fawn, and L. Olsen. Jose, Borealis. Favorite, Rich. Erland, Minnie, Etta, Columbia, Beatrice, and Fawn. Jose, Ellen, E irle, Rich, Kilmeny, Therese, Deeahks, Erland, Minnie, Etta, Columbia, Fawn, and L. Olsen. Ellen, Borealis, Earle, Favorite, Therese, Deeahks, Minnie, Etta, Columbia, Beatrice, Fawn, and L. Olsen. Jose, Borealis, Ellen, Favorite, Kilmeny, Therese, Deeahks, Erland, Minnie. Columbia, and Beatrice. Mascot, Borealis, Kilmeny, Deeahks, Columbia, Beatrice, Fawn, and Johnson. Jose, Borealis, Ellen, Earle, Mascot, Favorite, Rich, Kilmeny, Deeahks, Minnie, Columbia, Beatrice, Fawn, Johnson, and L. Olsen. Jose, Borealis. Ellen, Favorite, Kilmeny, Therese, Deeahks, Minnie, Etta, Sparks, Beatrice, Fawn, Johnson, and L. Olsen. Jose, Borealis, Rich, K lmeny, Erland, Minnie, Beatrice, and Johnson. Rosie Olsen, Jane Grey, Arietis, Vera, Sapphire, and Aurora. Borealis and Deeabks. Borealis, Favorite, Grey, Rich, Deeahks, Minnie, Beatrice, Algar, Johnson, and Sparks. R. Olsen, Rich, Deeahks, Erland, Minnie, and Fawn. R. Olsen, Grey. Kilmeny, Minnie, Columbia, and Beatrice. Borealis, R. Olsen, Earle, Favorite, Grey, Rich, Kilmeny, Deeahks, Erland, Minnie, Etta, Beatrice, Henrietta, Algar, Fawn, Johnson, and Sparks. Favorite, Rich, Kilmeny, Deeahks, Minnie, Etta, Columbia, Henrietta, Beatrice, Algar, Johnson, and Sparks. Kilmeny. Ellen. R. Olsen, Earle, Favorite, Grey, Kilmeny, Deeahks, Erland, Minnie, Etta, Algar, and Fawn. Favorite, Rich, Kilmeny, Therese, Deeahks, Minnie, Etta, Columbia, Beatrice, Algar, Fawn, Johnson, and Sparks. Favorite, Rich, Kilmeny, Therese, Deeahks, Minnie, Etta, Columbia, Henrietta, Algar, Johnson, and Sparks. Rich, Kilmeny, Erland, Minnie, Beatrice, and Sparks. Grey, Rich, Kilmeny, Deeahks, Minnie, and Etta. Grey, Rich, Kilmeny, Therese, Deeahks, Erland, Minnie, Etta, Beatrice, Algar, Fawn, and Johnson. Grey, Rich, Kilmeny, Therese, Deeahks, Erland, Minnie, Etta, Columbia, Henrietta, Beatrice, Algar, Fawn, Johnson, and Sparks. Grey, Rich, Kilmeny, Therese, Deeahks, Erland, Minnie, Etta, Columbia, Henrietta, Beatrice, Algar, Fawn, Johnson, and. Sparks. Grey, Rich, Kilmeny, Therese, Deeahks, Erland, Minnie, Etta, Henrietta, Beatrice, Algar, Fawn, Johnson, and Sparks. Grey, Rich, Kilmeny, Deeahks, Erland, Minnie, Etta, Columbia, Beatrice, Henrietta, Algar, Fawn, Johnson, and Sparks. Table showing number of days from September 1 to 21,1894, when pelagic sealing was carried on in Bering Sea, as indicated by log entries of a majority of the vessels of the fleet. Date. Sept. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Vessels. 3-rey, Rich, Kilmeny, Therese, Deeahks, Erland, Minnie, Columbia,Etta, Beatrice, Henrietta, Algar, Fawn, Johnson, and Sparks. Grey, Rich, Kilmeny, Therese, Deeahks, Erland, Minnie, Etta, Columbia, Beatrice, Henrietta, Algar, Fawn, Johnson, and Sparks.' Therese, Colombia, and Katherine. Triumph, Sapphire, Borealis, Ainoko, and Kate. Rich, Columbia, Beatrice^ Henrietta, Algar, Fawn, Johnson, and Sparks. Beatrice, Henrietta, Fawn, and Sparks. Erland, Henrietta, Algar, Fawn, Etta, Deeahks, and Johnson. Beatrice, Erland, Etta, Deeahks, Johnson, and Therese. Columbia, Beatrice, Fawn, Etta, Deeahks, Johnson, and Therese. Columbia, Beatrice, Erland, Fawn, Deeahks, and Therese. Sapphire and San Jose. Erland, Fawn, Deeahks, and Mascot. Columbia, Beatrice, Fawn, Deeahks, and Johnson. Beatrice, Erland, Fawn, and Deeahks. Beatrice, Erland, Fawn, Deeahks, and Johnson. Beatrice, Etta, Kate, Saucy Lass, and Beatrice. Beatrice, Etta, Shelby, Ainoko, and Beatrice. Beatrice, Etta, Venture, Saucy Lass, and Beatrice. Etta, Shelby, Beatrice, Sapphire, and Rosie Olsen. Etta, Shelby, and Rosie Olsen. Etta. fVV%*V». SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 49 Table showing number of days during month of August, 1895, when pelagic sealing was cai'ried on in Bering Sea, as indicated by log entHes of a majority of the vessels of the sealing fleet. Date. Aug. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Vessels. 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Rattler, Maud S., M. M. Morrill, Enterprise, Vera, Victoria, Triumph, G. W. Prescott, Columbia, Deeahks J. G. Swan, Bering Sea, Stella Erland, J. Eppinger, Herman, and Dora Siewerd. Rattler, Maud S., Enterprise, Vera, Victoria, Triumph, G. W. Prescott, Columbia, Deeahks, Willard Ainsworth, J. G. Swan, Bering Sea, Stella Erland, J. Eppinger, Herman, and Dora Siewerd. Maud S., Enterprise, Vera, Victoria, Triumph, Columbia, J. G. Swan, Bering Sea, Stella Erland, Alton, and Dora Siewerd. Rattler, Maud S., M. M. Mo rill, Enterprise, Vera, Victoria,-Triumph, Columbia, Deeahks, Allie Algar, Willard Ainsworth, J. G. Swan, Bering Sea, Stella Erland, J. Eppinger, and Dora Siewerd. Borealis, M. M. Morrill, Victoria, Triumph, Columbia, Deeahks, Allie Algar, and Stella Erland. Bering Sea. Maud S., Borealis, Vera, and Deeahks. Maud S., Victoria, Columbia, Deeahks, J. G. Swan, Bering Sea, Stella Erland, Louisa, and Rattler. Maud S„ Borealis, M. M. Morrill, Enterprise, Vera, Victoria, Triumph, Deeahks, Willard Ainsworth, J. G. Swan, Bering Sea. Stella Erland, E. E. Webster, Bonanza, J. Eppinger, Rattler, and Dora Siewerd. Maud 3., M. M. Morrill, Enterprise, Vera, Victoria, Triumph, G. W. Prescott, Columbia, Deeahks, Willard Amswort's J. G. Swan, Bering Sea, Stella Erland, Louisa, E. E. Webster, Alton, Bonanza, J. Eppinger, and Therese. Maud S., Enterprise, Vera, Victoria. Triumph, G. W. Prescott, Columbia, Deeahks, Allie Algar, M. M. Morrill, Willard Ainsworth, J. G. Swan, Bering Sea, Stella Erland, Louisa, E. E. Webster, Alton, J. Eppinger, and Therese. Maud S., Vera, Victoria, Triumph, G. W. Prescott, Columbia, Deeahks, Allie Algar, M. M. Morrill, Willard Ainsworth, J. G. Swan, Bering Sea, Stella Erland, Louisa, E. E. Webster, Alton, Bonanza, J. Eppinger, and Therese. Triumph. Victoria, Triumph, Deeahks, M. M. Morrill, Willard Ainsworth, J. G. Swan, Louisa, Alton, Bonanza, J. Eppinger. Therese, Rattler, Herman, and Dora Siewerd. Victoria, Triumph, G. W. Prescott, Columbia, Deeahks, Allie Algar, M. M. Morrill, Willard Ainsworth, J. G. Swan, Bering Sea, Stella Erland, Louisa, E. E. Webster, Alton, Bonanza, J. Eppinger. Therese, Rattler, and Herman. Louisa, J. Eppinger, and Dora Siewerd. Victoria, Triumph, G. W. Prescott, Columbia, Deeahks, Allie Algar, M. M. Morrill, Willard Ainsworth, J. G. Swan, Stella Erland, Louisa, E. E. Webster, Alton, Bonanza, J. Eppinger, Therese, Rattler, and Hermau. Triumph, G. W. Prescott, Deeahks, Louisa, E. E. Webster, Alton, J. Eppinger, Therese, Rattler, Herman, and Dora Siewerd. Victoria, Triumph, G. W. Prescott, Columbia, Willard Ainsworth, J. G. Swan, Stella Erland, Louisa J. Eppinger, Therese, Herman, and Dora Siewerd. Victoria, Triumph, G. W. Prescott, Columbia, Deeahks, Allie Algar, M. M. Morrill, Willard Ainsworth, J. G. Swan, Bering Sea, Stella Erland, Louisa, E. E. Webster, Alton, Bonanza, J. Eppinger, Therese, Battler, and Herman. Columbia, Deeahks, G. W. Prescott, Allie Algar, M. M. Morrill, Willard Ainsworth, J. G. Swan, Bering Sea, Stella Erland, Louisa, E. E. Webster, Alton, Bonanza, J. Eppinger, Therese, Rattler, Herman, and Dora Siewerd. G. W. Prescott, M. M. Morrill, Willard Ainsworth, J. G. Swan, Bering Sea, Stella Erland, Louisa, E. E. Webster, Alton, Bonanza, J. Eppinger, Therese, Rattler, Herman, and Dora Siewerd. Berin» Sea, Stella Erland, Louisa, Therese, and Herman. Columbia, G. W. Prescott. Allie Algar, M. M. Morrill. Willard Ainsworth, Stella Erland, E. E. Webster, Aitou. J. Eppinger, Rattler, and Dora Siewerd. Allie Algar, Louisa, J. Eppinger, iherese, Rattler, and Herman. Allie Algar, Columbia, M. M. Morrill, J. G. Swan, Bering Sea, Louisa, E. E. Webster, Alton, J. Eppinger, Therese, Rattler, Herman, and Dora Siewerd. Deeahks, G. W. Prescott, AI he Algar, Columbia. M. M. Morrill, Willard Ainsworth, J. G. Swan, Bering Sea, Stella Erland, Louisa. E. E. Webster, Alton, Bonanza, J. Eppinger, Therese, Rattler, Herman, and Dora Siewerd. Deeahks, G. W. Prescott, Allie Algar, Columbia, M. M. Morrill, Willard Ainsworth, J. G. Swan, Bering Sea, Stella Erland, Louisa, E. E. Webster, Alton, Bonanza, J. Eppinger, Therese, Rattler, Herman, and Dora Siewerd. Bonanza. Deeahks and G. W. Prescott. Deeahks, G. VV. Prescott, Columbia, J. G. Swan, Bering Sea, Alton, Bonanza, Herman, and Dora Siewerd. S. Doc. 137, pt. 2- 50 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Table showing number of days from September 1 to 21, 1895, when pelagic sealing was carried on in Bering Sea, as indicated by log entries of a majority of the vessels of the sealing fleet. Date. Sept. 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 20 21 Vessels. Deeahks, G. W. Prescott, Columbia, M. M. Morrill, Willard Ainsworth, J. G. Swan, Bering Sea, Louisa, E. E. Webster, Alton, Bonanza, J. Eppinger, Therese, Rattler, Herman, and Dora Siewerd. Deeahks, G. W. Prescott, Columbia, M.M.Morrill, J. G. Swan, Bering Sea, Stella Erland, Louisa, Alton, Bonanza* J. Eppinger, Therese, Rattler, Herman, and Dora Siewerd. G. W. Prescott, Allie Algar, Columbia, Bering Sea, and Louisa. J. G. Swan and Bering Sea. Therese and Rattler. Deeahks, Columbia, M. M. Morrill, Bering Sea, Stella Erland, Bonanza, and Dora Siewerd. Deeahks, G. W. Prescott, Columbia, M. M. Morrill, Willard Ainsworth, Bering Sea, Louisa, E. E. Webster, Bonanza, J. Eppinger, Therese, Rattler, Herman, and Dora Siewerd. Deeahks, G. W. Prescott, Columbia, M. M. Morrill, Willard Ainsworth, Bering Sea, Stella Erland, Louisa. Bonanza, J. Eppinger, Therese, Rattler, Herman, and Dora Siewerd. Deeahks, G. W. Prescott, Columbia, M. M. Morrill, J. G. Swan, Bering Sea, Stella Erland, Louisa, Bonanza, Rattler, and Dora Siewerd. Deeahks, Columbia, and Bonanza. G. W. Prescott. Bering Sea, Louisa, and Herman. Deeahks, Bering Sea, Stella Erland, J. Eppinger, Rattler, and Dora Siewerd. Columbia, Bering Sea, and Stella Erland. Columbia, Louisa, and Rattler. Stella Erland, Rattler, and Dora Siewerd. Bering Sea. Miscellaneous data on pelagic sealing in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea from 1878 to 1893, showing positions where fur seals wtre taken. [Data collected by C. H. Townsend and A. B. Alexander.] AMERICAN SCHOONER SAN DIEGO, D. McLEAN, MASTER-1883. Date. 1883. Lat- ! Longi itude. ! tude. N. Mar, 30 37 55 Apr. Mav 47 23 51 04 W. 125 30 127 24 131 45 Seals. Date. 13 29 1883. July 17 19 Latitude. Longitude. N. W. 55 34 163 30 55 40 169 12 65 00 169 00 Seals. 22 293 AMERICAN SCHOONER MARY ELLEN, D. MoLEAN, MASTER—1884. 1884. Feb. 1,2,3 N. W. 12 6 7 4 6 35 38 21 21 24 21 7 *4 23 12 3 23 16 19 8 21 12 4 23 14 21 20 12 1884. Apr. 7 N. 47 43 47 56 47 33 W. 127 43 127 07 125 44 18 5 ........ 38 53 37 18 39 30 38 13 39 35 124 40 128 54 8 2 8 9 10 11,12,14 48 11 18 16 47 53 48 04 47 57 48 05 50 12 49 55 49 54 48 33 48 26 48 35 49 15 48 40 48 30 48 28 50 31 55 50 125 47 126 13 127 10 128 30 128 50 128 34 126 30 127 30 128 15 127 50 127 30 127 45 129 30 131 40 166 50 13 20 18 11 21,22,23,27,28 19 20 32 29 42 02 40 50 18 Mar. 1 2 24 25 14 2 3 42 14 26 13 4. May 11 , 15 5 42 18 43 10 42 58 44 29 44 48 44 50 44 22 45 54 46 38 126 50 125 30 125 48 126 12 125 39 125 31 124 50 126 00 12 12 7 13 5 8 14 , 25 12 22 6 13 23 14 it:. ;::: 24 a 15 25 7 16 July 1-.* 2 17 2 4 19,26,27 8 56 30 56 00 55 10 55 50 55 50 55 56 55 52 55 52 167 30 167 50 167 35 167 47 168 35 168 24 168 00 167 30 18 28 47 37 47 39 47 43 47 10 47 42 47 31 47 24 126 06 125 58 126 00 125 00 126 03 126 44 126 19 9 23 29 .. . 10 ;.. 16 30 13 7 31 14 44 Apr. 4 - -,, ......... 15 98 5 18 64 6 19... 22 '•••'A****-**." SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 51 Miscellaneous data on pelagic sealing in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea from 1878 to 1893, showing positions where fur seals were taken—Continued. AMERICAN SCHOONER MARY ELLEN, D. McLEAN, MASTER—1884—Continued. Date. Latitude. Longitude. Seals. Date. Latitude. Longitude. Seals. July 1884. 21 N. 55 30 55 09 54 30 54 40 55 00 54 20 54 30 54 41 54 47 54 15 55 18 55 25 55 18 1 W. 168 00 166 49 168 00 168 50 168 30 170 15 168 00 170 28 168 30 169 00 168 19 169 00 169 39 22 43 4 43 4 25 15 6 63 8 10 131 21 1884. Aug, 9 N. 55 10 55 13 55 08 55 10 55 00 54 35 54 43 54 25 54 53 54 50 54 50 W. 169 30 169 39 170 00 169 05 169 00 108 40 166 20 167 20 165 15 165 20 165 40 140 24 10 67 25 11 12 63 26 14 27 31 16 jj 17 28 41 Ausr. 1 18 19 20 26 2 3 10 50 4 21 53 6.., 22 66 7 23 a 2 8 a Bound for walrus. AMERICAN SCHOONER MARY ELLEN, D. McLEAN, MASTER—1885. Jan. 1885. Feb. Mar. 26. 29. 4. 5. 9. 13. 16. 17. 20. 21. 25. 28. 1. 6. 7. 8. 9. 11. 12. 14. 15. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 1. 3. 4. 6. 10. 11. 16. 17. 18. 27. May 11. 12. 15. 17. 19. 20. 21. 22. 24. 25. 26. 27. Apr. N. 38 34 34 42 39 43 39 42 39 35 39 36 39 50 40 11 39 55 39 50 39 38 38 57 39 00 41 20 42 50 43 02 43 07 43 19 43 50 44 54 45 09 45 40 45 40 46 00 46 51 46 57 47 25 47 46 47 40 48 05 48 00 48 10 48 42 47 44 48 14 48 01 48 10 49 00 48 20 48 34 W. 124 00 124 30 124 28 124 10 124 20 124 40 126 00 125 10 124 30 125 55 124 25 00 40 00 125 35 124 40 125 125 125 125 00 125 15 125 15 124 30 125 00 124 125 125 125 125 125 125 125 125 125 126 126 126 127 126 50 30 30 00 12 30 30 30 30 27 25 50 40 00 15 49 00 49 23 49 24 50 30 51 37 52 12 52 39 54 32 56 20 56 39 56 45 56 34 127 00 129 20 130 37 132 48 132 50 133 58 137 00 137 10 137 51 137 56 4 14 15 21 16 1 3 33 14 10 5 9 7 29 39 3 3 45 26 27 9 2 8 11 13 2 3 18 14 15 12 18 8 4 2 11 12 15 1 13 1 2 10 6 6 4 13 3 7 17 5 3 4 26 8 19 May 28. 1885. June July Aug. 29. 31. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 8. 9. 11. 12. 15. 16. 19. 26. 30. 1. 2. 4. 8. 9. 10. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 24. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 1. 2. 3. 9. 12. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. N. 50 16 56 27 W. 137 51 137 43 58 11 58 00 57 40 I 57 55 57 49 58 20 i 56 13 55 58 54 20 53 50 53 37 53 30 I 53 00 138 10 138 23 139 00 140 00 139 47 144 30 148 21 151 49 157 18 158 10 162 33 164 30 167 00 55 40 56 17 165 17 168 23 56 19 56 51 55 45 55 26 168 17 55 46 55 28 55 26 .! 55 00 55 14 55 10 54 55 54 45 55 38 55 10 55 08 55 20 55 20 55 26 169 07 167 45 168 48 169 10 169 02 169 04 168 04 168 07 53 30 54 00 54 24 54 41 55 18 54 43 54 40 54 40 168.00 168 50 168 52 169 05 168 13 170 15 170 15 169 00 169 30 168 10 168 00 167 40 166 30 168 20 168 20 Ui 52 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Miscella7ieou8 data on pelagic sealing in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea from 1878 to 1893, showing positions where fur seals were taken—Continued. AMERICAN SCHOONER MARY ELLEN, D. McLEAN, MASTER—1885—Continued. Date. 1885. Aug. 25 26 27 29 Latitude. N. 54 31 54 26 54 26 54 09 Longitude. W. 168 27 168 23 169 26 169 00 Seals. 104 72 15 48 Date. 1885 Aug. 30 Sept. 1 2 3 Latitude. N. 54 22 55 30 55 00 55 12 Longitude. W. 169 10 168 45 168 00 167 10 Seals. 23 34 48 24 AMERICAN SCHOONER MARY ELLEN, D. McLEAN, MASTER—1886. 1886. Feb. 3 N. 39 00 40 00 40 10 39 35 40 01 38 31 38 33 38 30 38 35 38 33 38 00 38 31 38 48 39 47 40 27 40 40 48 15 W. 124 10 124 50 125 27 125 00 124 40 124 08 123 50 123 47 123 34 123 31 123 50 124 23 125 00 124 48 125 26 1 10 9 4 3 36 44 29 8 4 23 ■ 14 11 2 5 21 5 1 24 26 9 9 7 5 19 20 3 4 1 90 16 10 13 34 5 18 32 63 20 17 53 24 1886. June 1.................. N. 56 41 56 38 56 50 57 50 57 40 57 36 57 31 57 09 57 05 57 10 54 40 54 20 54 45 55 04 55 03 54 58 55 04 54 50 54 58 54 36 54 45 54 51 54 51 54 40 54 45 W. 138 50 139 00 138 39 139 55 139 35 139 57 140 41 140 48 139 50 139 40 168 45 168 32 168 35 169 25 169 42 168 10 169 33 168 50 170 28 170 40 168 30 168 34 168 24 168 47 139 7 2 151 8 3 44 9 6 95 11 7 8 9 io 11 12 July 2 3 8 12 13 15 17 125 17 197 18 179 19 172 20 38 21 32 Mar. 3 24 4 27 5 157 7 79 9 129 15 60 24 57 25 18 96 28 47 45 47 51 48 00 47 52 47 49 47 36 47 34 48 20 48 36 50 17 50 12 49 51 50 06 49 54 48 33 48 15 47 45 48 15 48 14 48 27 49 49 49 30 49 54 49 10 125 31 125 11 125 20 125 00 125 00 124 50 125 08 126 56 127 02 128 30 128 17 128 16 128 15 125 56 125 40 126 00 125 15 125 25 125 56 127 27 128 20 128 22 127 20 21 22 51 29.. 135 30 24 74 31 25 49 Apr. 1... 28 31 2 ...v/ .................. 29 30 31 230 3 5 135 45 7 9 10 11 12 13 Aug. 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 10 54 45 54 50 54 51 54 30 54 00 53 40 53 30 54 00 53 50 53 15 53 51 54 40 168 00 168 00 169 15 168 30 168 10 170 30 170 00 169 45 169 00 152 87 45 8 6 93 22 24 28 61 88 127 May 2 3 4.. 11 18 15 19 44 146 6 21 58 7 23 54 45 167 20 37 8 24 31 10 AMERICAN SCHOONER MARY ELLEN, D. McLEAN, MASTER—1887. Jan. Feb. Mar. 24. 2. 7. 17. 1. 5. 9. 15. 17. 19. 20. 21. 22. 1887. N. 41 18 37 44 38 00 38 00 40 53 47 38 47 38 48 00 48 18 48 00 48 00 48 00 23 48 00 24. 27. I 48 06 1 47 42 28 1 48 00 30 49 00 2 23 7 5 4 4 7 2 5 39 27 10 59 6 6 2 29 10 1887. N. 49 14 Apr. 6. 7 1 8 493fr 10 49 36 12 50 07 13 15 49 30 May 9 50 17 11 50 01 13 1 14. 15. W 128 16 18 | 55 45 19 55 38 21 1 56 13 22 23 56 57 52 26 127 127 128 54 29 45 127 •128 I 129 30 40 00 52 00 1 134 12 24 66 48 136 136 136 139 139 138 34 00 00 11 44 57 18 33 7 5 15 28 14 38 19 5 71 3 10 96 1 20 24 24 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS 53 Miscellaneous data on pelagic sealing in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea from 1878 to 1893, showing positions where fur seals were taken—Continued. AMERICAN SCHOONER MARY ELLEN, D. McLEAN, MASTER-1887—Continued. Date. Latitude. Longitude. Seals. Date. Latitude. N. 54 44 Longitude. Seals. 1887. May 30 31 N. 57 43 W. 138 00 18 7 1 32 34 9 ! 23 5 1 36 7 1 1 10 . 27 28 ! 20 ' 10 2 1 8 | 39 29 ; 37 3 1887. July 9 11 W. 168 25 4 5 June 1 2. 56 36 139 00 12 13 55 32 55 47 55 24 55 30 55 51 55 25 55 20 55 41 55 15 167 36 168 10 168 04 167 45 168 10 167 40 167 20 167 51 167 40 38 134 5 56 53 57 32 57 44 55 46 55 01 54 38 54 30 53 43 52 57 52 43 53 57 53 30 53 17 52 50 54 40 55 40 54 00 54 02 54 19 54 20 139 32 143 02 148 28 150 56 156 17 156 20 162 02 165 18 167 05 (a) 172 30 172 16 171 10 170 20 170 10 170 48 167 21 167 18 17 54 9 11 18 : 21 103 29 12 22 144 14 15 16 19 24 25 26 27 74 49 49 22 20 22 25 26 31 Aug. 1 8 3 5.. 54 28 54 41 54 20 54 15 54 15 54 22 54 00 54 18 54 19 53 53 53 47 53 37 169 00 169 00 169 00 171 00 170 30 170 30 171 00 171 30 170 01 170 27 169 57 170 05 70 95 11 239 27 6.. 45 28 7 12 29 :.. 8.. 53 30.. 9. 23 July 1 2 15 17... 29 19 4 8 18 19 20 87 a Bering Sea. CANADIAN SCHOONER EAYORITE (BERING SEA), D. McLEAN, MASTER—1886. July 1886. 58 55 30 55 39 55 32 55 35 55 32 55 26 55 21 54 55 55 01 25 i] 11 08 16 09 78 i 21 113 23 106 56 173 05 149 1 20 24 00 47 00 139 25 113 11 124 50 45 10 3 15 92 30 31 i 30 16 49 154 1 July Aug. 1886. N: W. | 55 15 167 43 j 55 24 168 08 55 17 168 17 54 50 168 49 54 40 168 50 j 54 39 169 23 54 35 168 40 54 50 170 07 55 06 170 40 ' 54 51 170 49 54 46 171 01 55 03 176 40 ; 54 45 168 17 1 55 24 168 35 55 30 169 10 56 15 166 45 55 40 165 20 55 12 165 40 119 106 128 32 142 (a) a From August 2 to tbe end of tbe cruise no record of seals written in tbe log. CANADIAN SCHOONER EAYORITE (BERING SEA), D. McLEAN, MASTER—1887. July Aug. 1887. N. 10 55 17 11 55 42 00 On 55 20 55 12 55 12 18 1 55 15 55 19 55 13 55 14 55 27 55 17 55 05 55 30 W. 166 41 168 37 168 30 168 18 168 30 168 24 168 30 168 30 168 25 169 00 169 12 169 00 168 50 168 45 168 40 168 50 168 40 167 40 167 45 168 30 Aug. 1887. N. W. 55 16 168 29 29 55 05 168 45 83 55 45 168 50 105 55 45 168 47 108 55 38 169 18 109 55 47 169 23 36 55 48 169 20 103 55 30 169 00 10 55 20 167 56 26 55 03 168 20 147 54 37 168 17 ] 3 54 30 168 25 14 54 30 168 50 57 54 25 169 00 16 54 20 169 12 122 51 06 170 04 140 53 55 170 00 19 Total 1,810 a This catcb made by white hunters. 54 SEAL LIFE ON THE PKIBILOF ISLANDS. Miscellaneous data on pelagic sealing in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea from 1878 to 1893, showing positions where fur seals were taken—Continued. AMERICAN SCHOONER 'HENRY DENNIS (NORTHWEST COAST), R. H. MINER, MASTER—1891. Date. Latitude. 1891. N Apr. 29 53 May 2 54 6 54 7 51 8 57 9 57 10 1 57 11 57 12 57 15 1 57 18 59 19 58 22 | 58 25 57 26 57 27 57 40 41 42 15 40 40 40 40 40 49 08 Longi- s , tude. beal8> W 133 135 136 137 136 136 136 136 136 138 141 30 j 49 27 48 51 51 5i: 51 51 | 50 I 08 30 3 21 8 90 64 64 55 30 35 49 Date. 58 141 19 1 | 48 140 18 31 20 136 49 1 35 136 52 10 35 136 52 1 | i 1891 May 29 30 31 June 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 14 16a .... 17b .... 18 July 27 Latitude. N. 57 31 57 38 57 38 58 38 58 30 58 12 58 31 59 03 58 57 58 34 58 39 57 45 57 45 57 05 51 32 Longitude. Seals. n w. 136 50 136 46 137 20 141 10 140 27 140 27 141 34 140 37 140 45 140 56 144 25 150 47 150 47 151 00 164 44 24 68 16 17 38 2 39 13 75 1 13 1 9 3 1 a Portlock Bank, 50 fathoms, 600 pounds codfish. b Codfish plenty. AMERICAN SCHOONER HENRY DENNIS (NORTHWEST COAST AhD OOrPER ISLAND REGION), R. H. MINER, MASTER—1892. 1892. Jan. 20 21 23 Eeb. 5 6 14 N. 48 13 47 23 46 45 46 21 46 20 46 51 46 48 46 58 46 27 46 17 46 19 48 19 48 36 49 29 57 12 56 36 57 11 57 17 57 11 56 47 56 55 55 58 56 55 57 41 57 52 57 52 58 56 58 56 W. 125 21 125 37 124 30 126 38 127 00 124 46 124 36 124 42 125 58 124 57 124 54 125 54 126 59 127 47 137 38 138 06 137 37 137 52 138 07 138 40 138 07 139 51 138 30 139 27 140 13 140 13 141 48 141 48 1 1 24 9 9 30 8 6 4 7 4 1 2 5 3 8 46 20 58 65 I 27 61 40 87 5 116 97 173 101 31 60 1 7 39 38 4 16 8 179 15 3 1 25 1892. ! May 17 18 21 22 25 29 N. 58 41 58 23 57 06 57 18 57 26 58 15 58 02 W. 147 50 140 40 149 38 150 05 150 18 158 20 150 15 13 11 15 18 1 84 15 30 31 8 16 121 17 18 19 June 1 7 8 V.. ...... .......... 58 00 55 40 55 31 55 20 52 24 150 00 152 55 154 40 155 10 E. 169 49 20 1 5 Mar. 19 20 21 Apr. 3 9 ! July 2b i\\. Ac .. 1 7 5 6 10 S:::::::::::::::::: 17 22 54 00 54 09 53 46 54 01 54 14 53 59 54 13 54 27 54 39 54 01 53 52 53 46 56 37 56 40 56 27 56 20 56 37 56 43 54 21 53 35 53 53 53 35 53 10 53 18 53 41 52 36 52 18 52 38 52 24 52 24 168 28 168 53 166 52 168 28 179 17 170 00 169 39 169 38 169 20 169 17 169 21 169 30 168 30 168 38 168 13 168 07 168 10 167 50 170 00 169 49 168 30 168 50 167 14 169 45 169 51 170 53 169 10 169 45 170 02 170 06 5 6 7 5 6 8 10 34 1 12 2 15 .... 23 2 16 18 22 25 26... 27 28 29 1 Aug. 1 3 i 5. 6 7 9. 10 11 12 14 18 19 22 23 38 3 27 23 37 24 25 26 7 1 13 27 40 28 108 29a 26 30 1 May 1 59 14 58 45 59 28 59 20 59 17 59 09 59 15 59 06 59 15 59 16 59 22 59 13 142 18 i 143 16 145 09 145 03 144 44 147 05 146 27 145 45 146 27 145 30 148 57 145 12 2 2 15 4 2 5 24 6 8 11 1 13 20 12 3 13.. 68 14 15 26 27 28 20 31 16 * 1 a Mount St. Elias north 50 miles. b A few seals seen. c Copper Island in sight, bearing west. itj^i*^TrJ#^^y^^y^^ .■ SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 55 Miscellaneous data on pelagic sealing in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea from 1878 to 1893, showing positions where fur seals were taken—Continned. CANADIAN SCHOONER UMBRINA (JAPAN COAST)—1893. Date. Latitude. Apr. 19. 20. 22. 24. 27. 28. 29. 30. 1. May 1893. 2.. 3. 6. 7. 8. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 22. N 38 38 39 39 38 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 39 40 39 40 40 39 39 39 39 40 40 40 00 30 30 40 30 30 15 10 18 07 20 04 36 37 30 20 58 09 00 50 45 59 25 20 22 10 Longitude. Seals. ! E. 143 00 143 00 91 143 15 144 22 3 145 55 31 145 40 79 145 17 71 ! 145 10 51 | 145 30 45 . 145 20 191 i 145 09 10 1 145 00 145 15 4 1 1 145 40 19 144 40 61 i 145 35 9 144 45 75 145 49 144 51 84 144 45 18 144 15 65 145 55 27 145 15 61 144 40 105 144 35 2 143 40 2 | Date. May June 23.. 24.. 25.. 26.. 29.. 30.. 2.. 3. 4.. 6.. 7. 8.. 9.. 10. 11. 12.. 13. 14.. 15. 16.. 18. 19.. 20. 21. 22.. 23.. 1893. Lat Longi- 1 itude. tude. N. E. 40 15 143 33 41 00 143 37 40 56 143 23 •40 50 143 10 39 40 144 20 40 30 144 00 39 50 145 05 40 11 145 05 40 50 144 35 42 00 145 05 41 27 145 35 41 55 143 56 41 57 143 50 1 42 04 143 50 42 16 144 35 42 55 145 20 43 00 147 00 j 43 06 147 56 I 43 06 147 41 43 09 147 20 43 15 147 00 43 35 147 05 43 25 147 18 43 12 147 33 43 12 147 33 Seals. CANADIAN SCHOONER TRIUMPH (JAPAN COAST), COX, MASTER—1892. Apr. 1. 2. 6! 7. 9. 10. 11. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 20. 24. 1 E. 39 17 145 06 37 39 36 145 02 95 40 00 145 08 64 | 40 28 145 28 9 i 39 48 145 10 168 , 39 49 145 05 ill ; 39 50 145 10 13 i 40 13 145 26 43 ' 40 10 145 05 104 I 45 09 144 09 38 40 30 144 25 9 39 23 145 07 18 40 53 145 28 13 40 07 145 50 27 39 37 145 08 103 j Apr. 27 28 . 29 30 May 3 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 I 1 E. 40 04 145 10 39 43 145 39 39 26 145 47 39 23 146 26 40 02 145 41 39 36 145 06 40 22 145 32 40 15 146 18 40 18 145 38 40 36 145 12 40 05 145 20 40 11 145 13 40 11 145 32 40 39 145 21 40 46 145 21 m n CANADIAN SCHOONER TRIUMPH (NORTHWEST COAST), COX, MASTER-1893.a Apr. 10 11 12 22 23 29 30 N. W. 57 48 138 38 57 57 138 57 58 02 139 09 57 25 139-19 57 21 138 38 57 51 139 31 58 31 140 06 May 7 16 17 N. W. 57 41 141 52 57 38 140 59 57 45 141 22 57 57 142 37 58 06 141 43 58 08 141 50 a Captain Cox has found seals plentiful in September in latitude 49° 40' and longitude good sealing; ground is Mount Eairweather, 115 miles north one-half west. '6 In three days. 103 &239 147°. A i V am writ 56 SEAL LIFE «»N THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Miscellaneous data on pelagic sealing in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea from 1878 to 1893, showing positions where fur seals were taken—Continued. CANADIAN EUR-SEAL CATCH IN 1893. [From official sources.] [Catch by each vessel of the British Columbia fleet and the place where the skins were taken.] Vessel. Triumph Sapphire E. B. Marvin Mascot Dora Siewerd Labrador Minnie Annie E. Paint Miscbief Diana Venture Mermaid Eawn Walter A. Earle Beatrice, of Victoria Ocean Belle Mountain Chief Arietis Cape Beale Kate Eavorite Borealis Ainoko W. P. Say ward Katherine San Jose Enterprise Agnes McDonald .. Victoria Rosie Olsen British! ~ °wT cK1 -S coast. COaat'I coast. 1,713 1,262 1,014 857 1,426 263 489 740 344 707 82 623 341 517 327 434 20 401 294 940 806 1,622 655 1,316 128 315 77 547 920 464 86 293 949 1,307 1,344 596 352 242 420 358 46 363 1,027 2.333 274 433 2,336 1,603 1,531 1,184 1,860 263 509 1,141 344 1,001 82 1,255 883 1,622 655 1,863 128 1,384 86 293 949 1,307 2,390 596 715 242 1,301 2,766 420 358 Vessel. British Colum- Japan bin coast. I coast. Wanderer 206 Viva May Belle Um brina Penelope Vera Pioneer 1,050 Otto 630 Mary Taylor 845 Brenda 845 Libbie City of San Diego Geneva I Casco I Carlotta G. Cox [ Oscar and Hattie Teresa Sadie Turpel Maud S Mary Ellen * W.L.Rich 1,321 Annie C. Moore W.P.Hall ! Beatrice, of Vancouver 950 C. I). Rand 1,060 Indian canoe catch 2,035 1,441 1,852 1,827 2,291 1,910 Russian coast. 30 625 99 1,242 942 1, 612 1,473 2,396 1,178 677 927 989 1,573 397 240 408 389 101 454 199 376 1,020 147 475 822 735 406 517 333 263 66 Total. Total 28,613 29,173 11,955 206 1,471 1,852 2,452 2,291 2,009 1,050 1,027 1,085 1,253 1.631 1,043 2,066 1,672 2,772 2,198 824 1,402 989 1,979 1,838 1,155 998 950 1,060 2,101 69,741 Positions of fur seals observed by Lieut. Commander Z. L. Tanner, V. S. N., from steamer City of Peking in 1878. Date. 1878 July 1 June 25 June 27 June 28 Latitude. Longitude. N. W. 43 01 161 23 E. 42 55 162 14 42 44 172 40 42 43 177 43 •*»«£.»*>» •VVo'/« r; «*„-■***■« mnm mv+++e*? SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 57 Positions where fur seals were taken by American and Canadian vessels in Bering Sea and the North Pacific Ocean in 1894. [From official sources.] AMERICAN SCHOONER ELLA JOHNSON (BERIlsGr SEA), R. H. MINER, MASTER. Date. Latitude. Longitude. Males. Females. Total. 1894. Aug. 9 A 54 24 54 46 54 47 55 05 54 37 54 15 54 17 54 39 54 30 55 01 57 37 54 15 54 07 54 10 54 09 54 29 54 29 54 52 54 49 54 07 54 52 54 41 166 45 167 20 168 18 168 55 168 26 168 43 168 25 167 07 167 20 167. 58 169 03 168 57 168 34 168 51 168 33 168 39 167 42 168 54 168 54 168 56 169 03 167 57 1 4 20 15 18 21 14 10 2 5 35 15 16 40 10 20 28 25 15 2 6 1 10 11 12 15 18 .. 19 23 55 9 95 48 47 81 71 70 10 37 63 34 32 63 45 11 40 30 30 4 17 59 9 115 63 65 102 85 24 27 28 29 .♦... 30 80 12 42 98 49 31 48 Sept. 1 103 2 55 5 31 r? 68 8 55 9 13 15 45 3 26 Total 322 892 1,214 AMERICAN SCHOONER DEEAHKS (BERING SEA), JAMES CLAPLANHOV, MASTER. [Catch, 1,023; 155 males, 868 females.] 1894. A-Uff. 6 1 54 33 54 41 54 53 55 36 56 02 56 10 56 21 55 43 55 35 55 16 55 11 54 10 54 25 54 35 54 59 55 03 54 37 54 30 54 30 54 54 54 25 54 34 54 35 54 43 54 34 54 34 54 43 54 42 54 35 54 35 I w. 167 00 168 00 170 52 172 17 172 27 172 37 173 09 11 7 7 8 11 9 2 10 55 11 20 14 1 15 172 39 172 36 171 05 170 42 167 00 167 30 167 38 167 00 166 34 167 21 167 14 167 14 166 56 166 47 167 18 166 57 166 49 166 51 166 51 167 33 167 16 166 45 166 45 9 16 1 18 23 19 13 22 51 23 36 24 26 40 5 27 12 28 153 29 91 30 . s 58 31 14 Sept. 1 2 170 80 7 8 2 9 17 1 5 4 13 2 21 34 4 1 7 13 27 4 30 9 10 12 13 14 15 51 5 1 12 17 40 Note.—Data for sex not collected by me from August 6 to September 2, but reported from custom-house at Port Townsend as 155 males, 868 females.—C. H. T. as 58 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Positions where fur seals were taken by American and Canadian vessels in Bering Sea and the North Pacific Ocean in 1894—Continued. AMERICAN SCHOONER STELLA ERLAND (BERING SEA). Date. 1894. Auj Sept . 5. 6. 8. 12. 16. 18. 22. 25. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 1. o 7. 8. 10. 12. 14. 15. Latitude. tud< 31" Males. Females. N. W. 54 44 167 23 7 37 54 56 167 41 3 13 ! 56 04 165 59 6 1 58 24 168 01 1 58 11 172 27 1 57 48 172 28 2 33 56 30 172 35 3 21 ] 56 13 171 30 1 54 40 168 59 1 5 54 24 168 57 5 9 53 47 169 35 14 32 ! 53 35 169 41 31 51 1 53 34 169 21 23 35 ! 53 38 169 25 39 59 53 47 169 40 21 29 54 20 167 47 17 8 54 46 166 55 32 55 54 55 166 59 3 12 55 09 166 166 55 36 1 7 54 48 22 54 47 166 15 10 112 Total. Total. 219 542 AMERICAN SCHOONER IDA ETTA (BERING SEA), B. B. WHITNEY, MASTER. [Crew, 17; boats, 9; hunters, 9.] 44 16 6 1 1 35 24 1 6 14 46 82 58 98 50 25 87- 15 1 29 122 761 1894. N. W. Aug. 1 54 40 169 00 5 2 7 2 55 06 170 46 6 8 14 3 54 46 171 25 3 4 7 4 54 50 171 34 12 51 63 5 54 49 171 37 1 X 12 13 6 55 33 173 48 2 6 8 7 55 50 173 35 6 12 18 11 58 00 173 40 1 1 18 54 09 168 39 25 53 78 19 54 15 168 10 6 17 23 22 54 18 54 05 54 07 167 55 168 05 168 25 3 3 3 23 3 24 i ^ 36 36 26 54 15 54 16 54 17 167 27 168 50 168 14 2 15 6 2 27 37 13 52 28 19 29 - 54 43 54 45 167 50 167 49 5 14 20 59 25 30 7a 31 54 44 169 00 2 18 20 Sept. 1 54 25 169 35 35 46 81 o 54 26 54 24 168 35 167 25 9 18 1 27 7 1 8 54 17 168 09 10 2 12 9 54 18 54 58 168 15 167 23 8 4 1 13 16 1 17 55 11 167 39 14 14 28 19 54 32 166 03 5 38 43 20 54 28 165 55 4 21 25 21 .1 54 24 166 05 6 33 39 Total 204 532 736 aa SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Positions where fur seals were taken by American and Canadian vesssls in Bering Saa and the North Pacific Ocean in 1894—Continued. AMERICAN SCHOONER COLUMBIA (BERING SEA), T. J. POWERS, MASTER. [Crew, 24; canoes, 10; bunters, 10; boats, 1.] Date. 1894. Aug. Sept, , 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 17. 19. 23. 24. 28. 29. 31. , 1. 2. 3. 5. 9. 10. 13. Latitude. Longitude. Males. Females. N. W. 55 11 171 10 9 4 55 17 171 31 26 27 55 32 173 30 6 9 56 09 173 30 3 3 56 30 173 10 7 5 56 33 172 34 5 10 56 51 172 28 172 43 1 U 56 54 16 57 09 173 19 20 27 57 01 174 20 3 2 57 06 174 14 4 8 57 49 173 50 3 9 57 49 175 01 2 2 57 54 175 09 2 1 57 00 173 52 19 23 55 46 55 25 173 07 172 55 1 3 6 55 23 172 24 18 25 54 58 172 26 1 3 54 28 167 57 19 14 54 19 167 53 3 5 30 mile s north of 9 15 Bogos Lof Island. 54 25 167 30 5 9 Total. 14 Total. 180 223 403 AMERICAN SCHOONER THERESE (BERING SEA), CHARLES HARITWEN, MASTER. [Crew, 22; boats, 6; bunters, 6.] 1894. N. W. Aug. 2 56 11 175 17 1 1 3 56 57 174 15 1 1 4 57 54 174 06 1 3 4 6 58 09 173 38 1 12 13 7 58 22 173 04 1 25 26 8 58 21 173 08 2 2 11 58 02 55 05 171 50 166 45 2 1 2 23 11 12 24 54 52 166 54 37 37 27 54 56 166 24 5 5 28 54 43 166 52 20 31 51 29 54 22 54 22 166 52 166 27 13 10 23 10 36 30 20 Sept. 1 54 49 165 59 20 46 66 2 54 47 166 18 6 9 15 3 54 46 54 50 54 39 54 36 166 19 165 21 166 26 166 26 1 1 4 1 8 5 15 1 6 9 19 10 1 Total 81 237 318 AMERICAN SCHOONER ALLIE I. ALGAR (BERING SEA), WESTER, MASTER. N. W. 53 49 54 46 64 46 54 25 54 40 55 12 54 40 168 50 167 43 167 30 167 18 167 50 168 08 168 40 1 20 10 10 5 3 11 1 18 49 15 13 4 5 16 69 19 25 22 23 23 9 24 8 27 27 28 54 35 168 20 12 20 32 29 54 50 168 06 23 29 52 30 54 47 167 57 16 20 36 31 54 20 167 19 3 3 Sept. 1 55 12 167 36 9 14 23 2 55 13 168 08 2 2 4 5 56 05 167 55 2 4 6 7 55 39 168 14 4 5 9 Total 128 199 327 60 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Positions where fur seals were taken by American and Canadian vessels in Bering Sea and the North Pacific Ocean in 1894—Continued. AMERICAN SCHOONER ROSE SPARKS (BERING SEA), J. W. TROTT, MASTER. Aug. 11. 15. 18. 19. 23. 24. 25. 28. 29. 30. 31. Sept. 1. 2_ 5! 6. Date. 1894. Latitude. Longitude. N. W. 56 42 174 23 55 48 172 27 54 42 167 48 54 48 167 20 54 31 167 15 55 26 167 57 55 45 167 47 55 06 167 48 54 54 168 10 54 48 168 20 54 54 167 30 54 42 167 34 54 42 167 25 54 31 165 45 54 28 165 35 Males. 5 1 5 1 3 5 5 2 6 1 1 1 Females. Total. 1 2 52 2 14 2 18 25 17 2 20 1 2 2 2 2 57 3 19 1 2 21 30 22 4 26 2 3 3 Total. 37 160 197 AMERICAN SCHOONER JANE GREY (BERING SEA). 1894. N. w. Aug. 13 55 20 172 28 1 4 5 15 56 01 175 00 1 1 17 55 56 172 34 1 3 4 18 55 52 173 06 2 8 10 22 1 54 59 170 32 2 7 9 26 54 28 54 28 168 18 168 45 1 13 7 17 8 27 30 28 54 36 168 24 7 9 16 29 k 54 32 54 20 168 16 167 45 5 4 8 7 13 30 11 31 54 56 55 30 167 32 167 12 1 2 1 Sept. 1 8 10 2 55 02 165 55 7 13 20 Total 46 92 138 1 AMERICAN SCHOONER LOUIS OLSEN (BERING SEA), GXJILLAMS, MASTER. 1894. N. W. Aug. 4 57 50 173 56 4 8 12 6 58 30 178 56 4 15 19 7 58 30 173 56 4 30 34 10 58 27 172 46 1 3 4 11 57 42 172 52 3 10 13 18 56 05 172 17 2 2 Total 16 68 84 1894. Ausr. 18 N. 57 07 57 05 56 47 56 40 56 56 57 47 58 00 57 58 58 01 58 01 58 08 57 47 58 09 58 13 W. 174 42 174 18 174 34 174 38 174 42 173 00 173 00 173 17 172 44 172 50 173 10 173 20 173 48 173 36 8 8 7 2 49 7 2 20 20 8 18 36 1 1 1 12 8 1 68 4 6 29 49 13 12 40 1 16 17 18 1 4 20 22 lb 27 28 3 117 29 m It 30 8 Sept. 1. 49 2 69 5 ; 21 6 30 7 76 'WgSBfe; •>-.<> SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 61 Positions where fur seals were taken by American and Canadian vessels in Bering Sea and the North Pacific Ocean in 1894—Continued. CANADIAN SCHOONER ROSIE OLSEN (BERING SEA)—Continued. Date. Latitude. Longitude. Males. Females. Total. $Umt. 8 1894. N. 58 13 58 11 58 15 57 50 57 56 58 05 57 56 57 47 57 47 W. 173 39 173 11 173 09 173 09 173 16 173 08 173 22 173 25 173 21 20 24 17 11 58 34 4 76 1 10 29 12 8 35 28 1 59 4 30 9 53 10 29 12 19 14 93 16 62 18 5 19 135 20 5 Total 425 431 856 CANADIAN SCHOONER UMBRINA (BERING SEA). 1894. Auar. 7 N. 57 40 58 20 57 53 58 07 53 12 W. 176 45 172 55 172 32 172 50 172 00 1 2 7 20 1 9 10 18 2* 6 15 7 2 8 22 22 27 Total 30 30 60 CANADIAN SCHOONER ARIETIS (BERING SEA). 1894. N. W. Aug. 4 56 26 172 14 7 13 20 5 56 22 172 14 2 2 6 56 02 171 56 2 5 7 7 56 26 • 172 14 10 16 26 8 56 02 171 56 5 1 6 10 55 38 172 50 3 3 11 55 08 171 07 2 1 3 12 54 08 170 4 1 5 13 54 50 54 41 168 33 166 59 1 8 1 15 10 18 T otal 39 52 91 CANADIAN SCHOONER WALTER A. EARLE (BERING SEA). 1894. Any. 1........ ... ............... .. N. 56 00 56 17 56 13 56 00 57 58 57 10 56 00 56 12 56 27 56 24 56 52 56 23 56 43 56 43 56 43 56 19 56 14 56 21 55 58 W. 172 35 172 00 172 00 172 41 172 26 173 26 172 29 172 15 173 33 173 38 173 38 173 48 174 16 173 52 173 52 172 58 173 00 172 55 172 54 1 15 10 20 16 15 9 26 2 5 8 6 7 2 13 9 3 30 25 12 20 32 12 80 26 20 30 60 16 18 20 50 14 40 10 3 4 6 7 10 3 45 35 32 36 18 47 22 21 28 106 29 30 Sept. 1 2 26 22 35 68 5 22 6 25 7 20 8 52 9 14 10 53 Total 155 517 672 62 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Positions where fur seals were taken by American and Canadian vessels in Bering Sea and the North Pacific Ocean in 1894—Continued. CANADIAN SCHOONER FAWN (BERING SEA). Date. Latitude. Longitude. Males. Females. Total. 1894. A nor. 3 !j i i 56 05 56 35 57 18 57 35 58 10 58 05 57 50 57 42 55 59 55 47 55 54 56 21 55 37 55 36 55 36 55 32 55 38 55 00 54 30 54 52 54 56 55 19 55 25 55 21 55 13 55 08 55 00 55 10 W. 172 02 172 05 172 40 173 30 173 30 173 23 173 03 172 50 172 17 172 11 172 12 172 41 17 L 17 171 28 171 38 171 42 171 11 170 16 -170 00 168 47 168 13 167 55 168 26 168 36 169 09 169 21 169 08 169 06 2 10 2 3 15 4 14 12 4 10 4 5 12 41 28 14 18 31 4 24 22 8 7 7 9 4 3 12 16 9 24 3 3 27 18 2 4 14 5 6 . 15 7.. 31 9 13 10 38 11 15 16.. 3 18.. 31 22 23 28 4 27 . 24 23 18 6 9 23 3 13 29 28 . 35 29.. 59 30 34 31 23 Sept. 1 2 5 41 3 44 6.. 4 7 35 27 6 6 16 3 5 59 9 10 12 13 14 15 49 14 6 23 10 14 Total 310 336 646 i'; CANADIAN SCHOONER MARY ELLEN (BERING SEA). 1894. AUtfr fiT- Is N. 57 10 57 16 57 30 56 26 56 26 56 42 56 42 57 04 57 10 57 10 57 10 57 10 57 22 57 22 57 22 57 22 57 46 57 46 57 52 57 52 W. 173 20 173 26 173 35 172 59 172 59 173 04 173 04 173 10 173 12 173 12 173 12 173 12 173 16 173 16 173 16 173 16 173 22 173 22 173 27 173 27 1 1 1 8 4 2 9 3 11 1 2 6 8 4 11 10 9 12 2 4 5 4 15 14 8 13 2 12 33 7 11 22 37 18 41 37 44 17 8 5 7 8 10 6 5 23 11 22 18 10 23 25 , 22 2 27 15 28 44 29 8 30 13 Sept. 1 28 2 45 5 22 6 52 7 47 8 53 9 29 10 10 Total 105 352 457 CANADIAN SCHOONER VERA (BERING SEA). Auff. 1894. 8. 9. 10. 11. 13. 17. 18. 19. 22. 23. 24. N. 56 56 55 55 55 55 54 54 54 54 54 54 26 25 57 57 50 04 30 30 24 17 23 30 "W". 173 173 172 172 172 172 168 167 167 167 168 168 17 17 30 30 58 35 30 56 46 37 03 07 1 3 6 9 33 3 13 12 4 1 "I' 5 1 1 80 2 1 10 6 4 1 1 7 11 10 1 113 2 4 23 18 Total. 80 115 195 SEAL LIFE ON THE PUIBILOI Positions where fur seals were taken by American and Canadian vessels in Bering Sea and the North Pacific Ocean in 1894—Continued. CANADIAN SCHOONER TRIUMPH (BERING SEA). Date. Latitude 1894. Aug. 1 o 4. 5. 6. 9. 10. 11 15. 19. 22. 23 j 24. Sept. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 1. 2. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. N 55 55 56 56 56 56 57 57 56 !6 55 55 54 54 54 54 54 54 54 54 54 55 54 55 55 55 55 33 47 03 53 58 58 06 15 29 25 46 30 38 32 30 38 30 40 53 46 54 00 57 01 04 09 20 55 18 55 05 55 20 55 20 171 172 172 173 173 173 173 173 173 171 171 168 168 168 168 168 168 167 168 167 168 168 168 168 168 168 169 169 169 169 29 20 12 00 50 40 58 18 12 20 30 20 55 09 09 08 08 30 20 4 15 80 50 38 10 20 70 80 50 42 26 80 40 7 53 97 17 40 53 Total 1,163 CANADIAN SCHOONER SAPPHIRE (BERING SEA) 1894. N. "W. Auff. 1... 54 58 170 59 53 42 95 o 54 55 171 20 171 16 31 38 69 3 55 01 9 8 17 4 55 50 172 01 41 42 83 5 56 00 171 51 33 13 46 6 57 03 173 59 12 7 19 7 57 03 173 04 18 19 37 8 57 v40 173 30 o 4 6 10 56 26 172 42 25 56 81 11 56 16 172 30 25 21 46 13 55 32 171 49 5 13 18 15 cc in 55 17 168 48 30 45 75 18 54 50 169 20 21 50 71 19 55 00 168 39 8 20 28 22 54 49 167 43 10 2 12 23 54 46 167 42 66 59 125 24.. 54 57 55 00 54 57 54 58 54 39 54 50 54 53 55 09 167 45 168 06 168 47 168 45 169 02 169 04 168 09 168 13 50 6 10 70 41 60 112 8 33 83 25 6 26-. 6 83 20 26 45 3 16 27 153 28. 61 29 . 86 80 . 157 31 11 Sept. 1 55 13 55 11 55 00 54 57 55 13 55 05 54 50 54 55 55 09 54 40 55 03 54 52 55 09 55 23 55 05 54 10 168 05 168 37 168 48 168 18 168 21 168 03 168 02 168 01 168 09 168 40 168 58 168 23 167 04 167 02 166 11 164 38 110 42 8 98 12 28 8 62 1 2 31 20 4 24 14 21 64 25 4 30 4 9 174 2 67 12 5 128 6 . 16 7 37 Q .......... ... 3 9 49 111 in 1 11 ....... 2 13 11 4 1 16 42 15 24 5 40 1R 14 7 28 1,226 879 2,105 64 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Positions where fur seals were taken by American and Canadian vessels in Bering Sea and] the North Pacific Ocean in 1894—Continued. CANADIAN SCHOONER AURORA (BERING SEA). Date. Latitude. *™f Males. Females. Total. 1894. Auc\\ fi .... N. 56 23 56 30 56 25 56 45 56 12 56 17 56 40 53 55 54 04 55 28 55 18 53 18 W. 173 40 174 00 173 35 173 35 172 43 173 10 173 22 170 56 168 00 166 00 166 01 159 00 4 10 1 6 20 3 12 16 3 4 9 12 22 1 17 10 9 22 22 5 8 1 13 7 22 8 23 9 ... 7 10 37 11 1$ 13 9 15 34 16 18 38 8 19 12 23 1 Total 79 138 217 CANADIAN SCHOONER BEATRICE, OE SHANGHAI (BERING SEA). 1894. N. w. Aug. 1 54 49 166 35 3 10 13 3 55 14 170 34 1 6 7 4 54 59 170 16 55 136 191 5 54 53 170 23 10 79 89 7 54 50 170 49 14 72 86 8 54 45 170 44 19 23 42 9 54 25 170 53 11 6 17 10 54 19 171 27 18 6 24 11 54 32 171 49 15 14 29 12 54 54 171 30 2 8 10 15 54 46 170 18 4 6 10 17 55 03 171 06 6 6 18 .r 54 52 171 00 6 48 54 19 54 58 170 53 3 4 7 23 55 12 169 27 1 14 15 25 54 57 171 01 7 13 20 27 54 34 171 34 7 43 50 28 54 32 171 36 2 21 23 29 55 22 171 32 5 16- 21 30 55 08 170 40 10 40 50 31 55 01 170 31 3 5 8 Sept. 1 54 41 170 24 30 82 112 2 54 49 170 02 3 3 6 5 54 24 54 57 168 41 170 14 5 6 4 13 9 6 19 8 54 56 167 35 5 11 16 9 54 55 167 28 20 75 95 10 55 08 167 37 3 3 13 54 36 167 14 15 13 28 14 54 37 166 55 12 3 15 15 54 39 167 03 19 20 39 16.. 54 53 55 09 166 44 167 04 3 20 3 17 16 36 18 54 51 166 42 4 2 6 19 54 22 166 36 1 1 Total 342 818 1,160 CANADIAN SCHOONER MASCOT (BERING SEA). 1894. Aug. 1. 2. 3! 9. 10. 11. 22. 28. 29. 30. Sept. 1. o N W. 55 06 168 54 40 167 54 20 167 55 34 171 55 40 171 56 10 172 56 05 171 57 56 173 57 56 173 57 50 173 57 47 173 57 49 173 58 03 173 20 18 20 2 10 1 33 2 15 33 00 11 15 12 29 31 29 4 11 5 15 16 13 15 46 18 5 4 2 3 22 7 10 26 7 4 25 35 12 23 6 3 5 55 18 22 57 11 9 41 50 30 irefflmmieiffiBTf SEAL LIFE ON THE PEIBILOP ISLANDS. 65 Positions where fur seals were taken by American and Canadian vessels in Bering Sea and the North Pacific Ocean in 1894—Continued. CANADIAN SCHOONER MASCOT (BERING SEA)—Continued. Date. Latitude. Longitude. Males. Females. Total. Sept. 6 7 1894. N. 58 02 58 04 58 14 58 02 58 00 (a) W. 174 00 173 50 173 45 173 35 173 35 (a) 11 39 21 16 23 21 11 19 19 4 20 11 22 58 8 40 9 20 12. 43 32 Total 299 246 1,103 a Canoe lost and picked up by scliooner Wanderer with 32 skins. CANADIAN SCHOONER FAVORITE (BERING SEA). 1894. A tut. 1. -. N. 54 40 55 05 55 13 55 03 55 40 55 40 56 46 56 26 56 26 54 41 54 21 54 25 54 39 54 39 54 38 W. 166 20 168 05 168 20 168 40 173 00 173 30 173 15 173 20 169 46 169 18 169 10 168 00 168 10 168 10 169 29 98 49 150 70 60 10 50 25 25 60 39 40 67 9 64 2 30 67 52 14 13 48 25 22 28 30 24 60 9 162 2 2 3 79 4 217 5 122 7 74 8 23 10.. 98 11 50 15 47 18 88 19 69 22 64 23 127 24 18 Total 752 488 1,240 CANADIAN SCHOONER ANNIE C. MOORE (BERING SEA). 1894, Aug. 1 2 3 4 5 N. 57 50 57 50 57 50 58 00 58 00 57 55 58 00 58 00 58 10 57 50 57 55 55 40 56 45 57 00 57 50 57 56 58 00 58 03 57 55 58 05 58 00 58 00 58 03 58 10 58 15 58 20 173 00 172 48 173 00 172 45 173 00 173 00 173 00 173 00 173 10 173 00 173 05 172 00 172 30 172 40 173 04 173 10 173 10 175 00 173 15 173 07 173 30 173 30 173 22 173 10 173 20 173 10 24 11 12 40 3 25 95 50 10 10 5 10 50 15 9 112 28 30 50 70 60 28 100 40 21 30 24 13 14 20 5 15 95 66 29 8 4 38 56 20 8 110 31 29 52 80 70 23 90 48 20 41 48 24 26 60 8 9 10 11 13 15.. 40 190 116 39 18 16 9 18 48 22.. 106 23 35 26 • 17 28 222 29 59 30 59 Sept. 1 2 5 6 7 102 150 130 51 190 8 88 9 41 10.. 71 Total 938 1,009 1,947 S. Doc. 137, pt. 2- 66 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Positions where fur seals were taken by American and Canadian vessels in Bering Sea and the North Pacific Ocean in 1894—Continued. CANADIAN SCHOONER LABRADOR (BERIXG SEA). Aug. 3. 4. 5. 6. 8. 9. 10. 12. 16. 18. 19. Date. Latitude. 1894. N. 55 05 55 00 54 32 54 40 55 13 55 04 54 50 54 55 54 45 54 40 | 54 25 Total. Longitude. W 167 167 166 167 166 167 167 167 167 167 167 00 10 20 00 45 25 05 20 24 30 10 Males. Females. 3 12 27 10 4 1 20 48 1 33 20 179 10 70 10 16 14 7 32 100 2 100 20 381 Total. 13 82 37 26; 18 8 52 148 3 133 40 560 CANADIAN SCHOONER SAUCY LASS (BERING SEA). 1894. Au2. 6 N. 54 28 54 28 55 08 54 30 54 44 55 09 54 56 55 24 54 56 55 07 55 23 54 52 55 05 54 51 54 05 W. 166 44 172 13 169 01 168 16 167 42 167 33 167 40 166 52 167 49 167 30 167 54 167 40 167 30 167 14 166 40 7 25 6 29 40 90 7 6 8 20 5 8 25 8 6 9 39 10 25 69 109 9 10 6 26 7 10 27 12 10 16 22 27 28 64 16 54 30 Sept. 1 2 5...................... 109 199 16 16 8 14 9 46 10 . 12 13 18 15 52 16 20 18 16 Total 290 378 668 CANADIAN SCHOONER BOREALIS (BERING SEA). 1894. Aug. 1 3. 4. Sept. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 14. 15. 18. 19. 22. 23! 25. 27. 28. 29. 30. 1. 4. 5. 6. 7. 12. N. W. 57 36 166 43 3 3 56 04 167 22 6 6 56 12 167 21 4 28 32 56 05 167 22 4 33 37 55 33 170 25 2 184 186 55 27 170 21 3 25 28 55 26 170 14 5 33 38 55 27 170 55 6 198 204 55 36 171 00 3 38 41 55 20 171 00 1 4 5 55 26 171 09 1 1 55 32 170 36 1 19 20 55 27 169 54 4 41 45 55 30 170 36 1 1 2 55 31 170 04 1 1 55 44 171 15 1 2 3 56 34 172 20 2 2 56 37 172 LI 6 6 56 50 172 49 6 89 95 56 49 172 49 1 26 27 56 33 172 33 8 8 55 30 170 05 4 77 81 55 35 168 30 1 1 54 59 168 42 9 48 57 55 06 168 33 12 74 86 55 02 168 10 7 49 56 55 20 169 41 16 62 78 Total. 90 1,059 1,149 ;--!^*.tt.-w>^>.yjj.»!*>^>:» ■ SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 67 Positions where fur seals were taken by American and Canadian vessels in Bering Sea and the North Pacific Ocean in 1894—Continued. CANADIAN SCHOONER KATHERINE (BERING SEA). Date. Latitude. Longitude. Males. Females. Total. 1891. Aug. 1 ....... . .. N. 56 05 56 23 56 30 56 35 56 30 56 25 56 27 56 20 56 20 56 25 56 18 56 14 56 16 56 18 56 05 56 30 54 20 54 10 54 16 54 22 54 15 54 20 54 40 54 25 54 35 W. 173 09 172 57 173 17 174 09 173 30 173 10 173 00 172 01 172 10 172 50 173 11 173 15 172 45 172 22 172 16 174 00 168 30 168 25 168 35 167 40 167 45 167 30 167 25 167 20 167 06 2 20 40 3 28 3 5 16 50 1 2 8 9 5 8 1 30 38 6 57 20 105 13 20 2 13 21 20 31 4 9 100 11 3 8 4 24 12 54 3 4 51 42 37 25 52 24 2 13 4 2 33 4 61 6 23 7 59 8 7 9 14 10 116 11 61 13 4 16 10 17 12 18 33 19 17 25 62 26 4 27 34 28 89 29 48 30 94 31 : 45 Sept. 1 157 2 37 3 2 5 33 Total 490 569 1,059 CANADIAN SCHOONER AINOKO (BERING SEA). 1894. Aug. 1. 2. 4. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 17. 18. 19. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. Sept. 1- 2. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 13. 14. 15. 17. Total N. 54 55 55 56 56 56 56 56 56 54 54 54 55 54 55 54 54 54 54 54 54 54 54 54 54 55 55 55 55 54 55 55 54 56 05 07 42 55 48 50 35 37 29 30 23 05 47 03 42 35 45 34 57 12 23 28 31 23 00 05 16 07 53 04 07 27 ~W. 171 171 172 173 173 173 173 173 172 168 168 169 167 169 168 167 167 168 168 168 168 168 168 168 168 168 168 168 168 168 168 168 166 12 49 44 54 30 34 28 13 40 59 45 12 31 02 08 42 33 39 19 06 13 27 43 30 43 35 37 42 06 27 08 01 23 8 20 60 13 14 12 5 15 18 5 42 35 70 25 10 7 62 75 62 61 5 107 8 1 69 32 14 76 30 10 45 68 8 1 6 41 9 13 4 3 12 24 6 45 24 6 5 58 43 18 18 12 65 20 3 26 20 25 10 7 1 10 30 66 41 115 49 16 12 120 118 80 79 17 172 28 4 95 52 39 86 37 11 55 98 8 1,092 565 1,657 68 •SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Positions where fur seals were taken by American and Canadian vessels in Bering Sea and the North Pacific Ocean in 1894—Continued. CANADIAN SCHOONER RATE (BERLNG SEA). Date. Latitude. Longitude. Males. Females. Total. 1894. N. W. Aug. 3..^ 55 56 167 31 1 5 6 4 56 21 167 28 1 20 21 5. en on 57 o7 166 43 1 14 15 7,- 58 40 167 48 1 1 !©,.. 58 03 172 00 4 11 15 1L 58 01 172 30 4 7 11 S&M&. 55 29 171 14 8 8 18~ 55 05 170 20 5 38 43 22 54 41 168 50 29 54 83 23 54 37 169 00 36 67 103 25 54 51 167 56 3 3 6 26 54 47 168 42 9 9 21 54 49 169 06 31 62 93 28 54 36 169 24 15 45 60 29 54 31 54 39 168 43 168 41 1 10 3 44 4 30- 54 31 54 45 167 59 3 3 6 Sept. 1 54 58 168 03 52 40 92 2 54 29 168 25 8 11 19 4 54 18 167 40 1 1 2 5 54 42 167 37 12 12 24 ■6 54 45 168 23 2 2 7. 55 05 54 32 54 45 168 56 169 . 00 168 35 9 15 12 10 13 19 19 8 28 9 31 12 54 50 54 47 54 47 54 41 54 35 167 37 167 39 167 39 167 33 165 24 1 12 8 25 4 1 •M 13 15 10 34 3 27 14.. 18 15 59 16 . 7 * Total. 303 564 867 CANADIAN SCHOONER VENTURE (BERING SEA). 1894. N. 54 36 55 02 55 00 55 24 55 14 55 28 55 26 55 12 55 05 54 49 54 38 54 48 54 53 54 23 54 23 54 24 54 33 54 38 54 36 54 31 54 50 54 46 54 59 54 43 54 37 54 35 54 49 54 38 54 39 54 26 W. 163 37 166 18 167 11 167 17 167 36 167 14 168 15 168 50 169 55 169 55 170 08 169 43 169 46 168 27 168 20 168 05 168 13 168 14 168 18 168 19 168 11 168 08 168 01 168 04 167 58 168 12 168 36 168 20 167 51 161 07 9 5 21 4 1 5 44 6 16 5 47 5 16 19 27 14 13 21 74 5 12 3 13 5 2 24 1 11 1 7 31 6 1 2 2 6 34 9 13 7 63 13 24 41 42 21 19 17 87 3 7 1 5 2 1 16 20 1 3 12 52 10 1 7 :;:::::::::::::::::"::::::::::::.:... 2 3 ii 11 78 15 18 29 19 12 22 110 18 24 . 40 27 . 60 69 35 32 31 38 Sent 1 161 2 8 19 4 9. 18 13 7 3 15 40 18 1 Total. 417 492 909 1 BBBi SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 69 Positions where fur seals were taken by American and Canadian vessels in Bering Sea an<& the North Pacific Ocean in 1894—Continued. CANADIAN SCHOONER WALTER L. RICH (BERING SEA). Date. Latitude. Longitude. Males. Females. Total.| 1894. Aug. 1 N. 55 05 55 17 55 17 55 10 55 00 55 15 55 11 55 05 55 12 54 56 55 00 54 58 54 40 54 48 54 53 55 05 54 35 54 35 54 42 54 36 54 40 54 40 54 50 54 40 W. 166 48 166 51 166 51 167 10 166 36 167 44 167 59 167 10 167 20 167 45 167 30 168 20 168 44 168 10 168 00 168 10 168 10 168 15 167 45 168 34 167 50 168 22 166 54 166 25 1 3 53 10 20 37 96 73 12 143 60 87 12 3 12 3 30 40 32 60 133 21 53 6 23 7 50 4 5 19 80 6 2 36 4 16 22 25 31 32 75 45 14 34 145 9 60 5 24 3 10 4 103 5 14 6 25 10 56 12 176 15 70 16 18 19 23 14 170 64 103: 24 34 25 28 26 43 27 1 35 28 105 29 85 30 46 31 94 Sept. 1 278 2 30 5 6 113 11 Total 1,000 749 1,749 1894. A Tig. 1.. . .' N. 54 48 54 37 55 12 55 28 55 03 54 50 54 55 54 43. 54 44 54 51 54 23 54 52 54 47 54 54 . 54 53 54 31 54 48 55 09 54 59 54 39 55 05 55 04 54 55 54 54 55 06 55 09 55 16 55 20 55 14 55 02 55 52 55 08 55 07 55 02 W. 165 51 165 31 165 07 166 29 166 44 166 30 166 31 166 14 165 29 165 30 168 30 168 24 168 13 168 00 168 07 167 39 167 34 168 00 168 23 168 03 167 42 167 39 167 35 167 49 167 55 167 36 167 51 168 00 167 41 167 30 167 25 167 22 167 19 168 08 20 2 16 18 21 7 31 24 12 47 12 4 15 18 14 33 81 103 58 10 76 12 10 8 6 1 1 14 5 45 1 28 1 23 55 6 1 41 63 27 1 1 114 44 14 58 50 1 3 20 60 90 30 12 116 9 15 10 11 2 65 3 3 4 44 5 1 6 41 7 76 8 13 10 1 11 72 12 87 15 39 16 1 17 1 18 161 19 56 22 18 23 73 24 68 25 1 26 27 IT 53 28 141 29 193 30 1 88 31 22 Sept. 1., 192 2 21 7 P 25 8 18 9 17 10 3 12 1 13 20 9 5 34 15 14 a) 5 Total 679 1 986 1,665 a Boat of schooner Minnie picked up by schooner Favorite with 5 skins. aarfiyfttWiffittrra 70 SEA.L LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Positions where fur seals were taken by American and Canadian vessels in Bering Sea and the North Pacific Ocean in 1894—Continued. CANADIAN SCHOONER SAN JOSE (BERING SEA). Date. Aug; Sept 3. 4. 5. 6. 8. 10. 11. 12. 18. 19. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 1. 2. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 13. 15. 1894. Latitude. Longitude. Males. Females. Total. N. W. 54 54 166 28 2 2 4 54 54 166 28 10 74 84 55 01 167 05 8 15 23 55 01 167 23 12 20 32 55 12 168 15 4 5 9 55 04 169 04 2 1 3 55 02 170 37 2 1 3 55 13 170 55. 3 2 5 55 11 168 10 8 3 11 54 25 166 34 30 13 43 54 56 166 44 15 8 23 54 54 167 33 13 4 17 55 29 168 00 1 1 55 10 166 54 2 2 54 57 167 13 26 26 54 55 167 30 3 40 43 55 01 167 11 6 20 26 55 04 167 50 14 40 54 54 57 168 06 4 9 13 55 11 168 36 7 50 57 55 13 168 36 9 20 29 55 17 168 10 4 9 13 55 15 168 55 20 50 70 55 15 169 20 43 80 123 55 14 169 24 1 2 3 55 00 169 00 10 20 30 55 05 168 10 14 40 54 55 16 168 25 3 7 10 54 48 169 03 1 2 3 54 35 166 36 4 18 22 54 28 166 00 4 9 13 Total. 256 593 849 CANADIAN SCHOONER KILMENY (BERING SEA). 1894. N. W. Aug. 6 55 30 165 00 8 11 19 8 55 00 166 00 7 9 9 55 10 55 00 165 00 167 00 1 6 1 10 7 13 11 55 55 55 30 166 30 167 00 2 50 2 13 43 93 18 55 12 167 00 2 3 5 20 55 10 55 00 167 40 167 00 50 10 59 11 109 22 21 23 55 00 165 00 4 4 8 24 ' 55 10 166 00 20 15 85 25 54 40 166 25 4 8 12 28 54 20 168 20 4 2 6 29 54 40 167 00 53 43 96 30 54 50 167 20 4 40 44 81 54 30 167 40 4 10 14 Sept. 1 54 30 167 30 40 34 74 2 54 35 167 28 29 9 38 7 54 40 54 10 167 15 167 15 1 3 4 6 5 8 9 9 54 35 167 20 3 10 18 10 54 40 167 05 2 2 13 64 00 166 03 1 2 8 15 53 15 165 10 1 2 3 Total 307 327 634 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Positions where fur seals were taken by American and Canadian vessels in Bering Sea and the North Pacific Ocean in 1894—Continued. CANADIAN SCHOONER HENRIETTA (BERING SEA). Aug. 7. 8. 10. 11. 13. 15. 18. 22. 26. 27. 28. 29. 31. -Sept. 1. 2. 5. 6. 7.. 8., 9. 17. 19. 20., Total. Date. Latitude. Longitude. Males. Females. Total. 1894. Aug. 18 N. 54 50 55 00 55 46 54 40 54 16 54 05 54 47 54 57 54 56 55 02 55 15 55 00 55 05 55 10 54 40 W. 166 20 166 30 166 30 168 46 169 19 169 27 169 16 168 53 169 10 168 52 168 40 169 36 169 34 168 56 167 00 8 15 18 12 100 21 12 120 40 20 10 3 3 20 25 15 24 21 11 20 5 15 65 21 31 32 4 9 33 34 23 19 39 24 39 28 23 29 120 30 26 31 27 Sept. 1 185 2 61 5 51 6 42 7 7 8 12 9 53 15 59 Total 427 340 767 CANADIAN SCHOONER SHELBY (BERING SEA). 1894. N. 54 40 54 50 55 14 55 20 55 41 55 38 55 52 55 05 56 32 56 10 56 20 56 19 55 28 55 19 55 14 55 32 55 32 55 23 55 06 55 13 55 32 55 28 55 21 W. 167 32 168 14 170 32 170 44 171 50 171 07 172 35 171 54 171 55 72 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Positions where fur seals were taken in 1894 off the Japan coast by Canadian and American vessels. [Data collected by C. H. Townsend and A. B. Alexander.] CANADIAN SCHOONER UMBRINA (JAPAN COAST), CAMPBELL, MASTER. Date. Lat- Longi- itude. tude. Dec. 28. 29. 1893. N. 43 40 43 40 1 1894. Jan. 1 4124 5 40 19 15 39 06 Apr, I Mar. 17. 18. 19. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 11. 12. 13. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 22. 23. 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 36 37 20 13 30 05 12 16 10 20 40 40 25 15 20 10 20 17 35 24 27 20 30 12 14 19 16 55 06 W. 141 00 142 00 150 00 146 10 173 55 Seals. E, 145 143 144 146 146 146 145 145 146 146 146 145 142 04 04 37 40 20 27 15 35 19 07 00 38 20 145 145 145 145 146 146 146 145 145 146 146 145 145 40 26 33 40 05 00 08 50 45 00 03 50 45 31 17 5 1 90 11 67 90 60 56 79 135 88 48 42 103 41 18 57 74 23 1 15 91 33 58 33 Date. 1894—Continued. Apr. May- June 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 1. 3. 12. 14. 15. 18. 21. 22. 23. 24. 26. 28. 29. 31. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 21. 22. Lat Longi itude. tude. N. E. 36 40 146 25 36 48 146 .. 36 50 (a) 37 34 146 23 37 35 145 55 36 56 145 55 36 40 145 47 37 40 146 50 37 49 146 58 37 51 147 26 37 16 145 00 38 11 146 35 38 22 146 25 38 37 146 10 38 36 146 20 j 40 11 144 46 41 50 144 12 41 35 145 00 i 43 03 147 30 41 23 145 40 40 55 145 56 .. 29 146 10 40 37 146 02 40 45 145 50 40 46 145 52 40 30 145 41 40 40 146 00 41 09 145 37 41 02 145 55 40 00 145 55 41 57 146 08 , 43 10 147 12 43 41 147 30 43 45 147 05 43 40 1 147 10 Seals. 84 14 1 19 16 70 19 104 21 119 1 61 51 57 9 27 7 2 6 5 92 11 31 79 55 36 4 8 1 15 2 81 9 11 a No observation. AMERICAN SCHOONER EDWARD E. WEBSTER (JAPAN COAST), McLEAN, MASTER. 1894. N. 37 46 38 00 Jan. 29. Feb. 2. 5 ...I 36 35 17 38 30 24 36 30 Mar. 5 37 32 Apr. 15 i 38 01 19 38 10 21 38 00 23 | 37 20 24 | 37 20 26 38 31 1 37 11 2 37 07 3 j 37 02 4 37 06 5 | 36 56 8 37 15 10 j 38 00 11 39 10 12 39 10 E. 146 15 144 40 145 00 146 00 145 46 144 35 146 16 145 30 146 10 145 27 145 146 145 21 145 35 145 25 145 20 145 40 146 10 146 03 145 51 145 51 30 18 29 30 17 61 27 25 31 36 47 65 57 28 61 58 40 17 29 33 26 47 73 May June 1894. Apr. 16. 18. 19. 22.. 26.. 23.. 24.. 30... 1.. 3.. 6a 8.. 10.. 13.. 28. 29. July 1. 2. 8. 9. N 40 37 37 36 36 40 40 39 41 41 00 40 40 57 44 00 10 52 04 42 41 41 41 42 42 42 43 42 43 14 10 24 02 04 12 30 56 15 E. 144 20 145 25 145 07 145 00 144 33 144 00 144 08 143 30 142 20 142 30 143 18 143 15 142 36 W. 179 02 178 15 177 20 177 00 175 15 174 44 27 17 128 84 101 17 21 41 29 24 38 18 22 24 30 7 17 11 27 38 a Cape Yerimo east 25 miles. II SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 73 Positions where fur seals were taken in 1894 off the Japan coast by Canadian and American vessels—Continued. AMERICAN SCHOONER ALLIE I. ALGAR (JAPAN COAST), WESTER, MASTER. Date. Mar. May 2 27. 30. 5> 1894. Lat- I Longi- itude. I tude. N 23 1 39 22 24 39 45 26 40 00 29 39 12 31 40 00 Apr. 1 39 54 3 4 39 15 39 25 6 | 39 28 8 I 39 25 18 v 39 29 23 39 27 24 39 51 25 40 15 26 40 13 (a) 40 03 («) (a) I 41 39 11 1 41 36 E 144 142 144 143 144 144 144 144 143 143 142 142 142 142 143 (a 143 (a (a 142 143 23 57 00 13 00 17 06 24 31 10 54 21 00 23 00 ) 06 ) ) 05 20 Seals. 8 37 23 2 36 17 78 32 16 47 38 10 3 29 40 2 26 45 11 47 25 Date. May 1894. June July 12. 13. 14. 21. 24. 25. 26. 29. 1. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 12. 18. 19. 23. 24. 25. 26. I Lat Longi itude. tude. N. E. 41 57 143 08 42 05 142 38 41 35 142 40 42 50 143 50 42 35 144 56 (a) (a) (a) (a) (a) (a) (a) (a) 43 16 147 00 (a) (a) (a) (a) (&) (b) (O) (6) (&) (b) (&) (b) (6) (b) 53 48 167 32 53 57 168 56 55 02 169 59 55 36 169 13 a No position. & Ten miles off Scoutan Island. 17 28 31 6 50 8 30 7 34 12 34 32 102 22 67 20 19 2 6 3 4 AMERICAN SCHOONER LOUIS OLSEN (JAPAN COAST), GUILDAMS, MASTER. Mar. 1894. Apr. Ma^ 12. 13. 15. 17. 19. 21. 1. o 3] 4. 5. 6. 8. 12. 18. 19. 20. 22. 23! 26. 28. 29. 30. 1. 1 1 E. 36 26 145 23 1 36 17 145 43 7 36 23 147 41 67 38 36 147 52 14 37 40 146 15 42 37 47 144 22 6 38 16 146 46 54 38 22 147 39 50 39 20 146 05 15 38 59 146 46 8 38 34 145 47 39 38 20 145 50 30 38 08 144 52 24 40 13 144 18 10 37 06 145 56 5 37 02 146 03 • 53 37 30 146 20 28 37 08 146 39 8 37 18 146 03 33 36 15 146 26 60 36 41 146 09 8 37 14 146 15 5 37 01 146 05 29 35 54 144 43 36 May 16.. J 17.. 19.. 20.. 21.. 24.. 25.. 28.. 30.. 31.. 1. 1894. June 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. N 40 41 41 41 (a 41 41 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 00 45 37 57 ) 00 47 38 42 38 46 38 37 22 52 59 55 42 37 56 E 142 143 143 142 {a 143 142 142 144 144 145 143 144 144 144 58 35 03 27 ) 00 28 54 58 38 03 57 06 30 53 1 144 57 145 28 145 56 145 59 146 08 3 35 65 19 50 30 3 7 1& 63 35 10 5 10 3 12 12: 11 33 2 Total 1 1 161,055 a Cape Yerimo SE. by E. 28 miles. 6 Fifty-seven seals additional belong to the catch; they were taken by the boats that went astray id were picked up by the Penelope, making the total catch 1,112. gg&g^ &GCAS*£*r3 irrnifri'nYirmTTfiT 74 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Positions where fur seals were taken in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea in 1895. [From official sources.] AMERICAN SCHOONER J. EPPINGER (BERING SEA), MICHAEL WHITE, MASTER. Date. Latitude. Longitude. Males. Females. Total. 1895. Ausr. 1.. N. 54 55 55 07 54 58 54 59 54 40 54 46 54 54 55 17 54 55 54 35 54 38 54 35 54 30 54 46 54 46 54 17 55 23 55 07 56 08 57 04 56 44 56 40 56 33 56 18 W. 167 47 167 27 167 16 167 40 167 30 167 46 167 47 168 00 168 01 168 35 168 40 168 35 168 30 167 52 167 52 167 51 169 00 173 40 173 50 173 03 173 25 172 40 172 32 175 10 6 3 1 1 8 13 1 1 12 13 8 7 7 2 10 5 7 4 4 5 5 3 11 2 8 4 4 9 1 10 42 48 3 4 23 1 22 2 1 27 16 16 3 22 11 10 1 25 41 2 50 11 61 12 4 14 5 15 35 16 1 17 35 18 2 19 1 20 35 21 23 22 23 24 25. 5 32 26 16 27 17 28 1 Sept. 1 29 2 45 8 2 9 56 50 54 20 174 22 169 35 113 333 5 1 446 5 15 1 Total 113 339 452 AMERICAN SCHOONER HERMAN (JAPAN COAST AND BERING SEA), SCOTT, MASTER. 1895. Mar. 20 , N. a 36 47 36 45 36 40 36 44 36 39 636 44 636 40 638 38 39 02 38 48 38 06 37 30 37 28 37 30 39 27 39 25 39 22 39 23 39 31 39 27 39 36 39 26 40 22 40 31 40 38 40 59 40 54 41 12 E. 145 26 145 40 145 05 146 20 146 06 145 50 146 24 146 17 146 14 146 32 146 35 146 28 146 52 146 35 143 02 142 51 142 45 142 25 142 21 142 40 142 30 142 31 142 28 142 16 142 31 141 56 141 47 142 00 1 21 4 27 1 Apr. 1 2 40 26 3 2 5 4 11 1 12 7 13 13 15 9 16 21 18 , 5 19 7 23 1 25 5 26 4 27 5 28 '. 66 29 , 3 30 11 May 1 ll 3 7 4 38 5 9 6 19 7 23 S 2 9 Cruising from 20 to 40 miles E. off Cape Yesan. Cane Yftaan W. 5 10 11 12 about . 41 53 42 13 41 48 42 07 41 51 !0 miles. 142 18 141 26 142 25 142 40 142 31 10 13 10 14 32 15 18 16 1 a Observation* 6 Dead reckoning. ■ jillntWM **v •.»- *■» *•*••?■ ** *"^ t^&*?*$**. SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 75 Positions where fur seals were taken in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea in 1895— Continued. AMERICAN SCHOONER HERMAN (JAPAN COAST AND BERING SEA), SCOTT, MASTER— Continued. Date. Latitude. N. Canft T"p,t Longitude. ■ Males. Eemales. Total. 1895. May 17 * 20 E. imn NT. 20 1 miles. 41 49 1 142 27 29 23 41 58 41 50 142 07 142 20 19 24 , 29 25 CapeYerimo ENE. *E. Distance 30 miles. Shotan NW. 15 miles. Shotan NNE. 10 miles. W. end of Yetorufie Island NW. 25 miles. do 13 26 9 Jane 1 2 o 14 7 16 8 8 10 S. side west end W. 25 miles. 10 miles S. of Jap Bay, Yetorufie. 44 57 | 147 51 W. end Yetorufie Island NW. 25 miles. W. end Yetorufie Island NNW. 35 miles. Otter Island N. 6 miles, S. of Yetorufie. Otter Island N. 10 miles. W. ftTid of Yfltmrififi 23 12 1 13 M 13 14 2 15 7 16 1 17 5 18 . 6 23 NNW. 45 19 N. 56 07 56 10 55 45 56 19 55 19 55 08 56 45 56 37 57 18 57 18 56 27 55 55 56 03 55 56 55 54 56 02 56 12 56 56 55 56 55 49 56 42 56 16 57 44 12 miles. 149 27 W. 167 15 166 25 164 51 165 10 168 11 168 47 172 43 173 43 173 29 . 173 30 173 43 173 21 173 21 173 23 173 45 173 35 173 32 172 50 172 35 172 55 173 41 173 37 172 39 1 Auff. 1 4 6 1 1 8 7 9 14 16 1 5 22 4 1 3 1 10 10 1 4 1 14 11 4 5 11 2 28 14 19 17 53 9 8 60 12 3 31 10 2 14 10 1 12 4 14 1 15 20 17 12 18 4 19 6 20 11 21 2 22 36 23 21 25 26 i 27 28 28 31 69 10 31 13 Sept. 1 2 8 82 16 4 9 i 34 13 1 Total 103 327 1,067 AMERICAN SCHOONER EDWARD E. WEBSTER (JAPAN COAST AND BERING SEA), A. C. EOLGER, MASTER. 1895. Mar. 20 N. a 37 22 37 34 37 17 37 38 38 46 39 06 39 10 39 08 38 53 E. 141 55 142 04 141 45 143 02 145 00 143 53 142 31 142 20 142 26 15 21 100 22 14 24:.:....::..: ::.:..::.::::: 1 Apr. 3 4 10 11 8 21 10 13 11 21 a Observation. -. jinnffljjfflDtn— 76 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Positions where fur seals were taken in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea in 1895—- Continued. AMERICAN SCHOONER EDWARD E. WEBSTER (JAPAN COAST A. C. EOLGER, MASTER—Continued. AND BERING SEA)y Date. Latitude. Longitude. Males. Females. Total. 1895. Apr. 14 N. 38 50 39 48 39 47 39 37 39 24 39 49 39 50 39 45 41 26 41 50 41 53 42 18 41 14 42 11 42 20 42 16 42 27 42 09 (a) 41 47 43 04 43 18 43 24 43 26 43 26 43 28 43 50 44 10 (a) (a) (a) 44 20 (a) (a) 44 12 (a) N. 655 10 55 30 c54 56 c55 13 c56 01 c55 08 c55 08 c55 25 c55 27 c55 16 c54 56 c54 57 c54 54 c55 54 c54 50 c47 47 E. 142 30 142 32 142 39 143 26 (a) 142 32 142 17 142 24 143 02 142 53 142 02 141 24 141 20 141 18 141 16 141 05 (a) 141 00 (a) 143 05 146 55 146 51 146 24 146 23 146 23 146 50 147 02 147 10 (a) (a) (a) 147 30 (a) (a) 147 15 (a) W. 171 35 171 30 171 40 171 15 171 45 171 01 170 30 169 10 169 36 169 59 168 00 168 55 168 55 168 56 168 00 165 18 3 19 35 20 3 22 2 23 5 27 36 28 ........ 44 30 4 May 2 10 3 3 4 15 5 8 6 34 7 34 8 6 10 1Q 12 12 13 8 14 23 15 28 23 13 24 18 25 41 26 4 31 4 June 1 3 2 9 6 27 7 29 8 18 lO...' 25 13 9 14 .. 9 15 15 18 9 19 5 Aug. 9 2 6 3 3 9 1 13 12 4 2 2 3 2 3 1 3 13 21 17 22 15 o 50 24 16 4 6 6 2 4 3 10 15 11 27 12 20 15 25 17 24 18 6 20 68 21 33 22 20 24 6 26 8 27 28 Sept. 1 8 9 4 7 1 Total 66 205 1,03T a Not noted on log. b Dead reckoning. e Observation. AMERICAN SCHOONER ALTON (JAPAN COAST AND BERING MASTER. SEA), A. J. ANDERSON, 1895. Mar. 26 N. 36 40 37 07 37 50 38 59 38 55 41 40 41 18 40 14 E. 141 23 141 54 144 00 144 00 144 57 143 28 141 52 142 51 6 27 1 29 1 30 3 Apr. 2 14 7 1 10 1 11 20 ■*>%UW4m «VW»« Hftjv SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 77 Positions where fur seals were taken in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea in 1895— Continued. AMERICAN SCHOONER ALTON (JAPAN COAST AND BERING SEA), A. J. ANDERSON, MASTER—Continued. Date. 1 Latitude.' Longitude. Males. Females. Total. 1885. Apr. 12 N. 39 53 39 33 39 55 39 42 39 56 39 34 39 47 39 06 40 14 40 24 40 13 40 30 40 89 41 50 41 33 42 13 42 26 40 14 40 22 41 30 41 36 43 00 42 03 42 47 43 58 23 01 42 40 55 01 55 15 55 04 55 07 55 32 55 11 55 23 55 22 55 31 55 13 55 24 55 25 55 07 55 01 54 55 55 16 55 20 55 21 E. 143 07 1 142 45 143 5 143 40 144 00 143 00 143 05 143 00 142 49 142 52 142 48 142 17 142 50 142 15 143 00 145 41 144 00 142 49 142 56 142 16 142 51 145 40 147 04 166 00 174 16 178 48 179 10 178 44 W. 167 40 167 36 167 46 169 03 169 40 169 47 170 24 170 43 171 14 170 55 170 46 169 26 169 15 169 00 169 38 169 37 170 00 40 15 5 17 1 18 31 19 16 20 12 22 19 May 1 3 3 6 4 56 5 20 6 9 7 6 9 4 10 16 15 3 16 i 19 1 20 3 June 10 4 11 3 15 2 18 3 28 1 July 2 6 1 1 7 1 Aug;. 3 1 5 3 3 4 5 1 6 7 1 1 6 2 1 10 • 11 1 1 1 2 6 15 1 9 9 10 1 1 12 i 14 1 2 15 11 17 18 18 1 20 12 21 13 22 15 24 1 26 7 14 1 | 16 2 13 27 i. 21 28 2 31 4 Sepfc 1 22 2 4 Total 45 98 458 AMERICAN SCHOONER MATTIE T. DYER (JAPAN COAST), C. E. MOCKLER, MASTER. Date. 1895 Aug. 7 8 9 10 16 17 20 21 23 24 26 btiti ade. N. 54 00 53 40 53 38 55 12 53 43 (a ) 53 28 54 18 54 20 54 37 54 16 Longitude. Seals. E. 166 00 12 166 04 10 166 14 1 164 10 2 170 10 1 (a) 4 165 47 8 165 47 5 165 10 12 164 10 1 164 10 4 Date. 1895. Aug. 27. 30. 31. Sept. 2. 3. 4. 8. 9. Total Latitude. N. 54 34 54 20 54 30 55 45 55 45 54 38 (a) 54 38 Longitude. ■pi 164' 40 163 30 163 40 W 163 50 163 20 (a) 162 30 Seals. 149 a No observation. b No longitude. V"-OTvV'J ;-.;•». w^-* 78 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Positions where fur seals were taken in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea in 1895- Continued. AMERICAN SCHOONER EMMA AND LOUISA. (BERING SEA), A. McLEAN, MASTER. Date. Latitude. Longitude. W. 171 14 171 48 172 18 172 55 173 01 173 00 173 20 173 30 173 37 173 12 172 48 173 04 173 16 173 30 Males. Eemales. j Date. Latitude. Longitude. Males. Eemales. 1895. Aug. 8.... 10.... 11 12.... 14.... 15.... 16.... 17.... 18.... 19.... 20.... 21.... 22 N. 55 08 55 48 56 30 56 12 56 20 56 07 56 15 56 17 56 06 56 02 56 12 56 00 56 06 56 10 3 4 1 3 2 1 3 9 1 6 4 3 7 | 16 29 4 20 1 22 12 21 40 19 33 19 1895. Aug. 25... 26... 27... 28... | Sept. 1... 2.. 3". 8... 9... 10... 13... 18... Total. N. 55 47 55 44 55 50 55 59 57 27 57 00 57 00 56 50 57 21 57 12 56 59 54 09 W. 173 00 173 15 173 15 173 10 172 56 172 48 173 00 174 03 173 00 173 07 173 03 167 15 2 18 22 14 2 2 2 2 2 5 8 35 29 9 3 28 11 8 3 13 2 4 23 108 399 AMERICAN SCHOONER BONANZA (JAPAN COAST), GEORGE WESTER, MASTER. Date. Latitude. Longitude. Males. Eemales. Total.. 1895. Mar. 30 N. a 39 27 38 33 39 26 b 39 29 a 37 26 37 15 36 41 36 30 &39 48' a 39 28 39 28 39 48 39 48 6 39 36 a 39 16 40 56 41 07 41 07 41 21 41 42 41 34 641 31 E. 146 22 144 20 142 40 142 07 145 01 145 44 145 08 145 01 142 40 142 37 142 38 142 48 142 14 142 16 142 21 142 08 142 16 141 58 141 58 142 10 141 54 141 36 u Apr. 2 3 5 7 5 5 13 u 27 16 26 18 16 19 13 23 . 6 25 10 26 2 27 41 28 56 30 1 May 1 3 38 23 4 124 5 41 6.. , 61 7.. 42 8 9 9 5 10.. 26 12 a 42 07 42 03 41 52 41 49 142 02 141 59 19 ]3.. 63 14. 142 08 142 27 40 15 „. 26 17.. 9 23 a42 33 42 42 42 42 42 48 42 58 42 58 42 32 43 11 43 05 43 38 43 31 643 43 145 53 145 47 145 46 145 34 145 30 145 59 146 35 147 30 146 32 146 58 146 50 147 04 11 24 19 25 57 26 2 27 2 28 1 30 3 31. 5 June 2 8 5.......... 2 6 13 7 10 8. .... 1 10 ::: a 43 23 6 43 50 146 42 147 10 3 14 9 16 „ 2 17.. 643 43 a44 01 57 20 57 40 6 57 38 a 55 18 55 26 55 17 55 06 146 52 147 51 172 54 172 47 172 47 170 40 170 13 170 32 169 47 9 18.. , , 17 Auff. 9 2 1 2 4 17 1 3 2 2 6 48 38 10 3 10 4 12 14 15. 3 8 52 17 20 55 11 a O bservation. 6 Dead reckoning. •ijasfertw';; SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 79 Positions where fur seals were taken in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea in 1895— Continued. AMERICAN SCHOONER BONANZA (JAPAN COAST), GEORGE WESTER, MASTER—Cont'd.. Date. Latitude. Longitude. Males. Eemales. Total. 1895. Aug. 21 v N. 54 55 a 55 06 654 32 54 44 55 20 55 15 55 15 55 14 55 28 55 34 54 46 55 05 a 55 00 ■pi 170* 30 169 50 168 03 167 54 170 30 169 23 169 24 169 41 171 31 171 51 171 07 170 50 169 50 5 2 3 7 6 33 6 1 m 2 1 5 17 2 1 1 12 34 6 1 4 1 3 10> 22 19 27 § 28 i 29 1 31 18 Sept. 1 67 2 12 7 2 8 6 9 1 10 3 11 1 Total 93 196 1,215 a Dead reckoning. 6 Observation. AMERICAN SCHOONER BOWHEAD (JAPAN COAST), W. P. NOYES, MASTER. 1895. Jan. 14 N. 36 14 36 48 36 40 36 42 36 21 36 20 36 20 36 37 36 05 37 11 37 01 37 12 37 17 39 09 39 26 39 40 39 38 39 50 39 57 39 40 40 12 40 10 39 58 39 48 40 00 40 20 40 10 40 12 40 01 40 08 40 18 40 39 40 26 41 00 42 16 42 45 42 50 42 53 42 28 42 45 43 10 43 15 42 56 43 00 43 35 43 37 43 56 43 53 W. 123 44 E. 146 01 145 50 145 10 145 48 146 01 145 43 146 00 145 36 146 28 146 09 146 08 146 31 146 40 146 34 147 17 147 22 147 25 148 08 148 40 148 30 148 35 148 30 148 02 148 15 148 18 148 12 148 12 148 34 147 53 148 30 148 40 146 48 146 44 145 50 145 36 145 50 145 30 145 50 145 35 145 55 146 22 146 06 146 05 147 10 147 15 147 58 173 25 1 3 3 10 6 2 1 1 1 8 7 8 1 5 11 1 3 16 3 8 42 2 10 17 8 11 7 2 2 3 1 5 8 1 3 4 9 5 2 1 1 16 1 18 9 11 2 24 46 17 6 12 1 18 Mar. 25-... ................... . ... 10 27 14 30 2 Apr. 1 - 27 2 56- 3 23 5 6 9 12.. 8 1$ 2 1 13 15 16 17 18 27 23 7 1 7 14 3 1 3 22 5 14 54 2 14 26 4 10 35- 30 15 2 12 19 25 20 4 21 1 22 & 23 38 26 28 8 22 Mav 1 96 4 4 5 24 6 43 7 12 8 21 9 7 11 2 13 1 1 a 16 4 20 i 24 2 14 1 7 25 22 26 1 27 1 30 1 2 1 6 2 4 31 6 June 2 lO- 5 ll 6 4 7 1 15 1 1 5 2 17 1 18 , 21 July 6 1 Total ^263 421 684 asm 80 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Positions where fur seals were taken in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea in 1895— Continued. AMERICAN SCHOONER WINCHESTER (JAPAN COAST), FRANK JOHNSON, MASTER. Date. Latitude. Longitude. Seals. Date. Latitude. Longitude. Seals. Dec. 1894. 13 N. 36 59 37 06 37 15 38 00 38 00 38 24 38 33 38 31 37 55 38 08 38 15 38 03 37 45 37 36 37 34 36 53 36 43 36 22 36 14 36 21 36 15 36 30 36 39 36 25 36 25 36 26 39 38 39 15 40 04 40 06 39 55 40 37 42 22 42 37 42 25 42 00 41 11 39 46 W. 123 55 123 30 123 43 123 37 123 20 123 49 123 50 124 10 123 32 123 13 123 50 123 24 123 31 123 21 122 51 123 53 123 46 E. 144 30 147 00 145 06 145 33 146 10 146 02 145 49 145 49 146 25 142 29 142 46 142 56 143 00 143 25 143 42 145 02 144 40 144 30 145 24 146 10 143 52 8 8 9 16 7 11 47 11 9 4 8 1 3 27 1 45 17 52 9 16 1 33 25 38 16 7 18 18 4 13 44 8 1 2 9 1 13 8 1895—Continued. May 9 N. 39 39 39 37 39 32 40 00 39 54 39 53 40 12 40 44 42 29 40 09 43 15 43 20 42 59 43 33 43 43 43 57 43 47 43 40 43 30 43 37 43 29 43 29 43 40 43 30 49 30 52 37 52 58 53 40 53 48 53 09 53 45 53 51 53 24 53 27 53 25 53 58 53 27 53 30 53 16 ■pi 146 ' 20 146 49 146 13 147 08 147 13 147 41 146 30 147 19 147 21 146 45 147 00 147 26 147 40 147 49 147 27 147 07 147 16 147 03 148 19 148 14 147 51 147 12 147 40 148 16 158 52 165 38 166 52 168 33 168 10 168 22 168 16 168 36 167 36 168 07 168 32 168 28 168 56 168 20 168 50 14 14 10 50 16 12 32 18 13.. 11 19 14.. 3 22 15 6 23 16 20 25 1 24 5 29 20 30 31 30 4 June 1....... 1 1895. 1 2 11 5 3 Jan. 6 7 5 5 6 10 8.. 6 9 9 1 10 10 13 4 11 16 21 14 14 Mar. 15 9 BBOCh if 24 17 18 19 10 27 5 BHOCE H 30 1 6 Apr. 30 3 2 July 5 2 3 7 14 16 21 22 25 28 29 30 1 5 4 6 29 15 11 16 4 17 2 18 8 19 10 23 11 26 27 31 Auff. 1 1 9 May 4 2 5 9 5 1 6 8 Total 923 AMERICAN SCHOONER SOPHIA SUTHERLAND (JAPAN COAST), A. O.' SUTHERLAND, MASTER. 1895 Mar. 9 13 21 24 30 Apr. 2 6 7 8 11 12 13 15 16 18 19 22 23 27 N. 36 16 36 53 36 26 38 13 39 27 38 01 38 05 38 37 39 42 38 01 37 33 37 27 37 50 38 47 39 15 38 44 39 20 39 56 39 42 E. 144 36 1 141 46 3 144 45 54 142 27 12 143 28 6 145 53 21 143 51 1 142 53 2 142 49 3 145 43 7 145 05 13 145 29 11 145 03 1 145 50 3 145 01 1 145 37 6 144 56 1 145 31 28 145 37 2 Apr. 30 May 8 9 10 12 13 16 17 19 25 26 June 1 11 13 14 15 1895. N E. 40 41 142 21 17 41 21 142 31 15 41 05 142 20 45 41 13 141 47 21 40 54 142 19 3 41 31 143 08 11 41 22 145 38 2 40 06 150 14 1 42 02 152 23 1 41 52 174 58 1 42 30 178 W. 21 2 40 42 177 47 4 40 31 150 21 1 40 46 148 15 (a) (a) 6 40 55 147 46 3 Total 309 a Calm. No observation. •»«'»{:.:{«:> . jiT,MpaT.i i|iir.Turr^rOTM"**'Tt'' SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 81 Positions ivhere fur seals were taken in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea in 1895— Continued. AMERICAN SCHOOLER RATTLER (JAPAN COAST AND BERING- SEA), FREDERICK NIELSEN, MASTER. Date. Latitude. N. 39 22 1 39 18 ! 39 45 i 39 54 40 59 40 13 39 41 < 39 35 39 08 39 42 40 58 40 41 m 40 41 01 42 08 42 07 41 55 41 42 41 40 41 23 41 55 41 52 41 40 41 38 41 38 42 08 42 08 42 10 41 33 42 11 42 39 43 06 43 10 43 10 43 10 44 06 41 42 42 03 43 15 43 09 43 34 54 57 54 52 55 09 54 59 55 05 55 03 55 00 54 49 55 04 54 55 55 13 55 11 54 44 54 51 55 05 56 49 57 09 56 55 57 03 57 22 58 36 57 35 56 41 56 54 56 43 56 42 54 38 54 42 54 30 Longitude. 1 Males. 10 ! 7 1 19 4 2 11 3 4 8 19 S 11 3 3 1 3 2 11 4 4 1 2 2 §1 5 3 1 1 2 29 21 7 10 3 3 3 12 15 6 6 3 6 1 6 6 7 7 1 3 1 2 1 Females. Total. 1895. Apr. 11 * E. 142 41 142 32 1 142 45 142 35 I 142 01 143 55 144 16 j 144 48 1 145 11 144 55 143 11 142 58 142 35 142 47 142 16 142 08 142 17 142 38 142 43 143 32 143 47 144 42 144 00 142 25 142 25 142 10 142 10 142 00 143 24 144 38 145 32 146 11 147 16 147 16 147 16 148 14 175 56 176 21 176 00 175 58 175 55 W. 167 45 167 32 169 37 169 12 169 10 169 22 169 20 169 10 169 30 169 24 170 38 170 36 168 51 169 31 170 38 174 49 173 43 173 51 173 50 173 48 173 32 173 54 174 52 173 47 174 33 173 30 166 48 166 22 165 35 12 17 1 2 2 22 12 38 13 3 15 9 16 2 18 1 19 39 4 2 21 5 36 7 4 2 3 58 23 4 28 2 May 1 3 25 7 4 47 10 7 8 9 10 10 15 12 5 13 17 4 28 14 7 15 3 16 1 24 1 4 25 2 26 17 2 1 7 7 28 27 6 June 1....... 5 c\\ 8 4 9 5...................... 2 6 11 8 1 2 16 7 11 8 1 10 2 11 1 15. 4 5 is::;:::::::;: :::.:...:::::::::::;:::::::::: 2 29 12 3 71 24 2 21 7 7. 1 4 48 57 7 28 9 28 1 6 1 24 1 44 29 1 13 2 16 1 5 2 1 1 5 41 30 3 July 6 92 7 31 8 2 Ausr. 1 31 2 • 10 4 10 8 1 9 7 10 60 11 72 12 14 15 17 13 34 12 34 18 2 20 21 12 1 22 30 24 25 26 27 28 Sept. 1 2 1 51 36 2 13 2 19 6 8 2 7 9 2 10 15 18 20 Total , 1 1 5 1 327 721 I 1,048 j S. Doc. 137, pt. ?„ 6 i -^•"^■-»»-«^^»' 82 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRfBlLOF ISLANDS. Positions where fur seals were taken in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea in 1895— Continued. AMERICAN SCHOONER JANE GRAY (COAST OF JAPAN AND RUSSIA), S. H. BURTIS^ MASTER. Date. Latit N 35 37 37 37 38 38 37 38 38 39 37 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 39 39 40 40 41 41 41 41 41 41 41 41 41 41 41 41 41 41 41 41 41 41 ude. 58 12 06 30 06 08 40 07 29 31 40 19 27 28 15 11 09 50 00 37 58 09 50 54 54 54 54 54 54 54 54 54 54 30 25 25 55 40 35 25 45 Longi- t ude. Seals. 2 31 2 12 21 9 23 11 6 1 9 2 14 30 7 i 10 ! I5 i 11 ! III 30 5 58 19 4 6 32 33 89 32 94 55 1 16 14 24 51 8 26 4 19 23 14 Date. 1895. May 26 27 Latit ude. Longitude. Seals. 1895. Mar. 24 25 E. 141 08 141 18 141 20 141 37 141 55 142 22 143 20 142 30 142 20 142 25 142 21 143 13 142 15 142 05 142 16 142 25 142 24 143 00 143 00 142 22 142 30 142 12 142 15 142 00 142 00 142 00 142 00 142 00 142 00 142 00 142 00 142 00 142 00 142 10 142 15 142 15 142 40 142 40 142 15 142 15 142 45 N 41 41 41 41 41 42 42 42 43 44 44 44 44 44 44 43 42 36 06 06 06 30 44 55 47 00 15 10 JS 12 10 21 E. 142 49 142 46. 143 20 143 20 143 20 146 24 146 20 146 16 148 35 147 10 146 10 146 55 147 03 147 28 147 40 148 00 19 2 26 June 1 2 27 o 1 29.. 4 30 1 Apr 2.............. 6 10 3 12 5.............. 13 10 9 14 10 12 15 5 15 17 10 16 18 19 7 17.. 4 18 23 6 19 24 5 20.. Total 22 a 1.111 23 25.. 52 53 53 54 55 56 56 56 56 561 56 53 54 54 54 54 54 54 54 52 52 59 17 09 44 09 09 09 09 09 45 20 12 01 10 10 10 10 164 11 165 48 165 49 165 02 163 44 164 25 164 10 164 10 164 10 164 10 164 10 164 00 165 29 165 37 165 39 165 35 165 35 165 35 165 35 1 27 7 42 28 8 2 30 9 1 Mav 1 10 3 2 16 28 3 17 g 4 is..:.:..:. .: 2 5..., 19.. 1 6 20....:....:::: 13 7 21 13 9 22 5 10 26 1 13 27 26 14 28 2 15 31 t 4 16 Sept. 2 16 20 3 4 5 21 12 23 Total 24 185 25 1 a June 19, one skin taken in trade, making 1,112 skins in all landed at Yokohama, Japan. AMERICAN SCHOONER THERESE (BERING SEA), JGHN WORTH, MASTER. Date. Latitude. Longitude. 1895. Aug. 10. 11. 12. 14. 15. 17. 18. 19. X 56 a 54 54 55 54 56 55 a 56 46 58 36 11 48 00 58 00 Sept. 20. 21. 22. 23. 25. 26. 27. 28. 6. 8. 9. 56 22 56 28 a 56 25 tt56 30 56 32 56 17 56 39 56 48 57 11 56 82 56 56 25 43 57 04 Total. W. 168 168 168 168 168 172 172 172 172 172 172 173 173 173 172 172 174 172 173 41 50 32 35 23 00 10 12 Males. Females. 8 3 4 2 3 11 8 2 1 11 19 11 17 6 31 45 11 45 8 10 4 00 o 12 5 48 5 30 18 30 5 48 48 1 20 1 28 4 34 1 45 12 23 9 34 15 53 10 3 18 8 9 Total. 30 11 2 1 15 21: 14 28 122 56 20 27 11 39 20, 71 15 3 19 1 12 10 96 330 426 a Dead reckoning. b August 20, latitude 56° 22' north, longitude 173° 14' west, the above number of skins and sex found to be correct by E. V. D. Johnson, lieutenant, United States revenue steamer Perry. . <►.»{«<«. SEAL LIFE ON THE PEIBILOF ISLANDS. 83 Positions Where fur seals were taken in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea in 1895— Continued. AMERICAN SCHOONER COLUMBIA (NORTHWEST COAST), CHESTOQUA PETERSON, MASTER. Date. Latitude. N. 48 07 48 10 48 06 48 12 48 15 48 00 48 07 48 08 48 12 . 48 10 48 15 48 40 47 42 48 00 47 48 47 46 47 39 47 33 47 44 47 43 47 52 47 44 Longitude. Males. Eemales. Total. 1895. Jan. 24 W. 126 00 126 01 126 00 125 58 126 03 125 58 126 00 125 58 125 59 125 20 125 30 125 00 125 05 125 02 125 21 125 25 125 25 125 20 125 50 125 45 125 08 125 07 10 16 12 18 12 9 % 8 3 1 2 4 2 11 1 12 2 2 13 5 15 3 9 4 7 10 7 5. 6 6 2 15 25 31 26 15 27 27 28 16 29 16 Feb. 7 34 8 6 9 15 Mar. 4. 8 5 7 6 8 7 6 8 2 21 39 3 2 50 23 a 24 a 25 i 26 20 15 2 41 32 27 * 17 28 4 29 54 Total.. - 165 204 a 369) a Shot 40, speared 329. Customs examination, 216 females and 153 males. AMERICAN SCHOONER COLUMBIA (NORTHWEST COAST), O. MASTER. F. CHRISTIANSON, 1895. Aug. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 8. 10. 11. 12. 15. 17. 19. 20. 21. 24. 26. 27. 28. 31. Sept. 1. 2. 3. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 16. 18. Total. N. 54 34 54 35 55 07 55 05 54 53 54 42 54 43 54 43 54 35 55 27 55 20 55 02 54 56 54 59 55 07 54 22 54 15 54 35 55 41 55 35 55 28 54 30 55 02 55 12 54 47 54 35 54 51 54 35 54 19 W. 166 55 167 07 166 39 166 27 166 46 166 58 166 55 166 55 166 14 167 10 167 18 167 28 167 28 167 28 167 03 167 33 167 33 167 16 167 10 167 08 166 50 166 43 166 27 | 166 37 166 38 166 31 166 40 166 24 166 14 163 381 544 84 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Positions where fur seals were taken in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea in 1895— Continued. AMERICAN SCHOONER JAS: G'. SWAX (XORTHWEST COAST), PETER BROWN, MASTER. Date. Latitude. N. Longitude. W. Males. Females. Total. 1895. Feh 2 48 00 48 07 126 00 125 58 9 22 6 12 15 3 34 7 48 12 126 03 3 4 7 8 48 09 126 05 10 17 27 Mar o 48 05 125 15 o 0 2 5 6 47 50 125 20 1 1 7 47 40 125 19 3 5 8 8 47 45 125 21 5 6 11 Apr 21 47 49 125 23 10 13 23 22 47 50 125 20 2 2 24.. 47 40 125 22 1 1 2 .25 47 42 125 23 3 2 5 26.. 47 50 125 30 14 7 21 27 47 51 47 44 125 21 125 05 3 14 5 41 8 29.. Total 55 100 124 a 224 \\ a Shot 30, speared 194. •Customs examination. 156 females and 68 males. AMERICAN SCHOONER J AS. G. SWAN (BERING SEA), J. W. TODD, MASTER. 1895. N. W. Aug. 1 54 22 166 59 7 3 10 2 54 38 167 43 3 5 8 3 54 42 167 38 8 7 15 4 54 44 166 55 12 10 22 8 55 24 171 42 . 1 1 9 55 10 55 20 171 02 170 11 3 10 8 81 11 10 91 11 54 52 170 15 9 64 73 12 54 48 170 22 4 5 9 14 55 18 170 30 8 68 76 *5 55 18 170 17 7 57 64 17 55 22 170 09 16 73 89 19 55 07 169 53 1 I 30 55 30 169 58 16 82 98 21 55 22 170 08 11 55 66 •22 55 22 55 08 55 04 55 14 170 06 170 40 170 45 170 40 12 8 25 7 68 52 55 23 80 26 60 27 80 28 30 31 55 22 55 24 169 48 169 54 3 31 4 121 7 Sept. 1 152 2 55 24 55 24 170 25 170 20 8 4 13 16 21 10 20 Total 212 872 1,084 AMERICAN SCHOONER STELLA ERLAND (NORTHWEST COAST), H. K. NEWGARD, MASTER. 1895. Feb. 7 N, 48 16 47 51 48 03 47 46 47 46 47 45 47 57 47 45 47 34 48 01 47 47 47 32 47 33 47 45 47 42 48 00 W. 125 36 125 18 125 29 125 10 125 50 125 25 125 02 125 35 125 50 126 00 125 05 125 45 125 30 125 30 125 25 125 14 3 5 10 1 4 2 2 7 3 4 1 15 7 19 6 1 6 9 8 6 9 16 Mar. 4 1 5 4 6 7 1 3 2 8 9 *.. 8 15 3 21 24 25 26 27 28 29 6 2 2 18 5 1 26 10 2 3 33 12 1 45 Total 1 83 8^ a 165 "\\" a Shot 2, speared 163. Customs examination, 130 females and 35 males. SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 85 Positions ivhere fur seals were taken in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea in 1895— Continued. AMERICAN SCHOONER STELLA ERLAXD (BERING SEA), B B. WHITNEY, MASTER. Date. Latitude. N. . 54 28 54 32 54 29 54 17 54 12 54 03 54 56 54 56 54 37 54 21 55 04 54 56 55 14 55 10 55 03 55 12 54 26 54 33 54 38 54 41 55 00 55 13 55 49 55 50 55 05 55 56 54 31 Longitude. W. 166 19 166 34 166 29 167 55 168 33 168 03 168 03 168 05 167 30 167 11 166 54 167 27 167 32 167 51 168 14 167 26 166 17 167 17 165 46 165 56 168 37 172 60 172 23 172 15 167 02 165 34 165 32 Males. 29 1 1 5 1 1 13 16 20 5 12 5 9 8 7 12 8 18 1 3 6 2 20 Females. 43 6 o Total. 1895. AUfiT. 1 72 2 7 3 4 3 5 5 8 1 3 44 47 17 57 19 ia 26 12 12 16 23 15 47 1 1 9 10 11 12 15 17 4 57 63 37 62 31 19 1 23 20 35 21 20 22 12 23 23 24 27 28 35 23 65 Sept. 2 1 F y « 4 28 4 3 2 24 7 9 34 10 6 15 3 16 2 20 44 Total 203 473 676 AMERICAN SCHOONER PURITAN (NORTHWEST COAST), IDIS WOODWARD, MASTER. B . Date. Males. Females. Total. Between March 8 and March 25, 1895. Between March 25 and April 30, 1895. Total. 2 j 2 2 4 6 a 10 a Speared. AMERICAN SCHOONER TEASER (NORTHWEST COAST), MAC OLESON, MASTER. Date. 1895. Latitude. Longitude. Mar. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Apr. 8. 21. 22. 26. 27. N. 48 08 47' 45 47 10 47 56 47 56 48 05 47 44 47 49 47 43 47 43 I W. 125 42 125 18 125 58 126 18 126 25 126 26 125 12 j 126 26 125 '34 125 24 Males. Females. o 6 4 8 8 Total 41 8 2 2 2 1 4 8 3 6 10 46 Total. a 87 a Shot 2, speared 85. Customs examination, 64 females and 23 males. gggrtTTrTi 8.6 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Positions where fur seals were taken in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea in 1895— Continued. AMERICAN SCHOONER AUGUST (NORTHWEST COAST), CHARLES WEIBERHARD, MASTER. Date. Males. Females. 4 Total. Between March 8 and March 25, 1895 , 2 a 6 a Speared. AMERICAN SCHOONER MATILDA (NORTHWEST COAST), JAMES YOKUM, MASTER. Date. Latitude. Longitude. Males. Females. Total. Jan. 29 1895. N. 48 06 48 01 47 53 47 40 47 42 48 00 47 00 47 40 48 00 • 48 06 W. 125 32 125 26 125 40 125 54 125 43 127 00 135 26 127 43 126 00 125 32 1 1 1 1 1 8 4 4 Feb. 9 1 Mar. 5 8 1 1 1 9 1 Apr. 21 22 5 1 2 7 2 6 1 24 26 27 3 15 2 Total 13 22 a35 a Shot 3, speared 32. Customs examination, 30 females and 5 males. AMERICAN SCHOONER C. C. PERKINS (NORTHWEST COAST), TOEASKO, OR LIGHT- HOUSE JIM, MASTER. Date. Between February 28 and March 25, 1895. March 25 to April' 30, 1895 Total Males. Females. o 3 17 9 Total. 22 12 8 26 a 34 a Speared. AMERICAN SCHOONER ELSIE (NORTHWEST COAST), N. T. OLLIVER, MASTER. Date. Latitude. Longitude. Males. Females. Total. 1895. Feb. 8 N. 48 07 47 50 48 02 48 03 47 51 47 45 47 55 48 01 47 53 47 28 47 56 47 50 48 00 47 50 47 50 48 02 47 40 47 56 47 50 47 48 47 57 48 20 W. 125 28 125 30 125 33 124 50 125 12 125 00 125 04 125 05 125 32 124 50 124 55 125 25 125 03 125 12 125 12 125 00 125 12 124 52 125 12 125 15 125 12 125 45 11 26 3 1 2 11 4 3 2 1 1 4 3 4 1. 1 1 3 4 11 15 9 37 13 3 22 1 oo 2 5 1 3 2 2 1 11 5 6 26 6 4 11 3 18 4 24 Mar. 3 4 16 8 4 5 6 9 2 2 10 31 Apr. 4 8 20 21 22.. 2 1 15 8 10 27 6 24 26 27 29 5 13 4 21 Total 84 125 a 209 tp| a Shot 204, speared 5. SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 87 Positions where fur seals were taken in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea in 1895- Continued. AMERICAN SCHOONER BERING: SEA (NORTHWEST COAST), L. LARSEN, MASTER. Date. Latitude. N. 48 30 47 28 47 39 47 50 48 09 48 05 48 46 48 30 48 30 48 20 48 07 48 10 48 15 Longi-, tude. Males. 1 3 ; 4 7 12 1 21 2 16 Females. Total. 1895. Mar. 4 5 6 7 9 W. 125 19 125 00 125 10 125 30 127 00 127 10 126 30 126 40 126 30 126 15 126 30 126 20 126 15 3 5 2 1 19 2 5 11 21 4 8 2 2 27 10 Apr. 19 20. 21 22.. 2 9 18 33 1 27 12 2 21 33 28 29 4 37 Total 76 104 a 180 a Shot 8, speared 172. Customs examination, 145 females and 35 males. AMERICAN SCHOONER BERING SEA (BERING SEA), L. LARSEN, MASTER. 1895. Ansr. 1...,,,-,...,., TT - -r,,,, N. 54 35 54 52 54 54 55 03 54 55 54 57 54 49 54 50 54 40 54 42 54 34 54 30 54 19 54 40 54 40 54 48 54 38 54 24 54 18 54 35 55 00 55 24 55 21 55 05 55 20 55 10 55 15 54 51 54 50 54 34 54 25 W. 166 50 166 51 167 10 166 54 166 57 166 03 167 10 167 23 166 45 166 17 166 09 166 40 167 04 166 44 166 24 165 35 167 56 167 15 167 15 166 25 166 30 166 24 167 30 168 24 169 30 169 46 169 50 168 08 167 00 166 30 166 00 18 2 1 1 10 32 17 7 6 4 4 10 4 4 7 9 6 8 1 I 3 41 18 1 7 59 2 20 3 1 4 7 6 1 8 1 3 31 105 2 53 16 4 7 10 27 6 2l 8 12 19 8 2 23 19 1 20 1 15 10 5 1 9 4 10 41 11 137 12 2 15 70 20 23 21 10 22 11 23 10 24 33 26 10 27 33 28 12 31 16 Sept. 1 26 2 8 3 2 7 32 8 25 9 1 10 28 13 1 15 W 21 16 15 8 Total 165 498 663 1 AMERICAN SCHOONER DEEAHKS (NORTHWEST COAST), JOHN JAMES, MASTER. Mar. Apr, 1895. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 21. 23. Total. a No position for these days. Customs examination, 62 females and 20 males. N. 48 47 47 47 47 fa) (a) (a) 00 56 38 24 19 W. 125 125 125 125 125 («) (a) (a) 00 12 05 16 08 o 4 3 4 3 8 o 39 b Shot 9. speared 73. 3 8 5 5 6 10 43 8 12 8 9 9 18 2 16 682 88 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Positions where fur seals were taken in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea in 1895— Continued. AMERICAN SCHOONER DEEAHKS (BERING SEA), BEN MARTLNIUS, MASTER. Date. Latitude. Longitude. W. Males. Females. Total. 1895. N. A Tiff. 1................... 54 22 166 58 6 5 11 2 54 18 54 32 54 30 54 50 55 04 54 56 64 48 54 52 54 50 55 20 55 14 55 14 55 15 54 20 54 18 168 15 167 45 167 51 165 55 166 01 165 55 166 00 166 09 165 45 168 18 168 08 168 28 168 39 167 03 166 49 4 2 3 1 6 11 15 5 8 13 2 1 8 3 4 3 12 1 17 60 46 13 39 49 19 .4 35 10 8 4 5 5 15 7 1 8 1 9 23 10 71 11 61 12 18 14 47 15 62 17 21 18..' i 5 20 ; 43 21 13 27 55 02 166 46 2 19 21 28 54 52 166 20 15 33 48 30 54 35 166 40 2 1 3 31 54 28 167 34 6 16 22 Sept. 1 54 25 167 26 to 15 25 2 54 50 167 40 1 8 9 7 55 25 167 10 8 20 28 8 55 30 167 38 6 8 14 9 54 55 167 00 3 3 10 55 05 166 52 2 9 11 11 55 25 166 10 1 1 15 54 50 165 32 i 1 2 Total 141 451 592 AMERICAN SCHOONER EMMETT FELITZ (NORTHWEST COAST), JAMES CLAPLANHOZr MASTER. Date. Males. Females. Total. 1 3 1 3 6 3 1 3 19 Date. 1895. Apr. 22 Males. Females. Total. 1895. Mar 4.. 3 1 3 3 5 3 3 16 1 1 1 7 1 5 25 \\ 1 2 6 7 8 Apr. 21 26 27 Total 2 7 9 40 a 49 a Shot 16, speared 33. AMERICAN SCHOONER IDLER (NORTHWEST COAST), L. A. LONSDALE, MASTER. Date. Latitude. Longitude. Males. 1 4 i Females. 1 4 1 1 2 1 3 8 1 9 6 3 Total. Jan. 28 1895. N. 47 25 48 05 47 50 47 50 47 50 48 00 48 20 48 00 48 00 48 10 48 20 48 20 W. 125 00 125 40 125 10 125 10 125 10 125 00 125 35 125 50 125 30 125 00 125 00 125 30 2 Feb. 6 8 8 1 9.. 1 10 2 Mar. 5 1 Apr. 9 8 21 28 26 27 4 1 9 6 29 Total 3 6 35 a 41 a Shot. SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Positions where fur seals were taken in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea in 1895-—' Continued. AMERICAN SCHOOLER JESSIE (NORTHWEST COAST). Apr. 10,1895 Date. 1895. ™*>**\\ *at N. 48 09 W. 125 04 Males. a Shot 2, speared 22. Customs examination, 24 females; 22 were pregnant when caught. AMERICAN SCHOONER R. ECRETT (NORTHWEST COAST) 1895. Mar. 5 N. 47 50 48 00 48 00 47 30 47 45 47 45 47 50 48 20 48 14 47 30 48 31 47 30 48 25 48 20 W. 125 20 125 30 125 30 125 20 125 25 125 25 125 40 125 20 125 30 125 30 125 35 125 30 125 00 125 00 5 4 5 4 4 3 1 7 4 2 9 4 13 I 6 6 7 7 5 8 3 4 8 9 4 10 7 Apr. 14 7 20 3 2 2 2 7 2 5 11 21...1 0 23 6 24 4 27 12 28 6 29 16 Total 65 34 a 99 wt a Shot 50, speared 49. Customs examination, 90 females and 9 males. AMERICAN SCHOONER CEO. W. PRESCOTT (BERING SEA), HENRY McALMOND, MASTER. 1895. Aug. 1. 2. 10. 11. 12. 15. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 24. 27. 28. 30. 31. Sept. 1. 2. 3. 8. 9. 10. 12. N. 54 40 54 30 54 34 54 27 54 24 54 30 54 40 54 45 54 40 54 50 55 30 54 30 55 17 54 35 54 34 54 48 54 45 54 40 54 38 54 35 55 00 55 15 55 15 55 05 Total. W. 168 10 163 00 166 00 166 30 166 40 166 49 168 25 168 20 168 24 168 35 168 01 168 20 167 40 165 25 165 30 165 30 165 35 165 40 165 45 165 50 167 40 167 40 167 40 166 15 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Positions where fur seals were taken in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea in 1895* Continued. AMERICAN SCHOONER ALLIE I. ALGAR (BERING SEA), H. B. JONES, MASTER. Date 1895. Latitude. ^"df ^l™. N. 55 27 55 42 55 36 55 17 | 55 01 i 55 40 55 17 55 02 55 44 55 12 55 20 54 56 54 31 56 41 1 w. 166 46 167 07 167 11 167 13 167 24 167 23 166 50 167 20 iB7 24 168 54 169 13 169 20 169 32 167 06 2 1 2 2 1 Females. 3 52 34 2 27 13 1 1 10 10 6 7 20 173 Total. 8 4 56 1 89 2 29 14 1 1 12 12 7 7 193 SCHOONER WILLARD AINSWORTH MASTER. (BERING SEA), E. E. CROCKETT, 1895. N. 54 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 54 54 54 55 54 54 49 10 08 16 10 00 06 20 21 09 18 82 00 57 55 86 00 39 40 W. 166 168 168 168 168 167 168 168 168 168 169 168 169 169 168 167 171 167 166 30 1 j 29 6 14 25 5 25 12 20 4 40 2 46 15 32 7 35 2 10 18 53 20 57 1 57 7 00 6 30 4 85 7 13 00 117 1 12 2 15 51 19 4 32 36 5 38 38 20 11 9 9 19 2 1 1 18 2 20 63 28 0 47 43 7 56 58 21 18 15 18 26 2 1 323 440 SCHOONER M. M 1895. MORRILL (BERING SEA), EDWARD CANTILLION, MASTER. N W 54 27 166 54 51 169 55 05 170 55 16 170 55 10 170 55 12 170 55 12 170 55 12 169 54 58 169 65 20 169 55 10 169 55 13 169 55 07 169 55 17 169 54 53 169 55 00 170 55 10 170 54 50 167 54 40 167 55 18 167 54 00 167 54 33 166 54 27 166 50 44 20 30 12 25 18 47 25 28 46 47 24 10 4 7 4 6 7 5 13 45 1 00 11 09 1 15 10 20 1 12 2 00 2 50 1 50 4 102 ,) 15 7 1 30 37 14 10 24 16 46 7 13 1 2 24 6 6 1 9 11 4 2 291 15 20 11 1 34 44 18 16 81 21 59 7 17 1 8 35 7 16 2 11 18 5 6 393 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 91 Positions where fur seals were taken in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea in 1895— Continued. AMERICAN SCHOONER KATE AND ANNA (NORTHWEST COAST), CHARLES LUTZEUS, MASTER. Date. Latitude. Longitude. Males. Females. Total. 1895. Jan. 15 1 6 2 3 4 4 5 5 13 1 25 18 miles SW Point Reyes 6 26 38 00 N 123 36 W 2 28 37 09 N 123 10 W 3 29 37 04 N 122 55 W 4 31 15mile8SW S. Farallon 4 Feh. 1 15 miles SW Point Reyes 5 3 38 17 N 123 33 W 5 4 38 16 N 123 25 W 13 5 38 14 N 123 15 W 2 1 2 14 15 3 10 5 8 8 1 2 5 8 2 7 19 2 14 2 20 3 2 11 6 8 9 7 14 24 29 10 1 11 5 3 30 16 15 38 06 123 24 W 3 16 38 00 123 20 W 3 13 19 15 miles SW Point Reyes 5 20 22 miles SW do IB 8 21 20 miles - do 8 23 38 42 N 123 50 W 1 27 38 25 N 123 45 W 2 Mar. 1 5 2 20 miles M E. hy E 20 miles NE. hy E 25 miles ESE 20 miles E.hyS 18 miles ESE Point Reyes 8 3 4 5 do..: do do 1 2 7 20 6 do 2 7 16 miles E. hy S do 4 18 15 37 34 N 123 50 W 2 18 8 28 22 38 00 N 38 08 N 123 40 W 3 23 123 25 W 2 24 Point Reyes............ 1 12 25 38 16 N 123 47 W 6 30 42 00 N 124 25 W 8 Apr. 6 44 04 N 124 30 W 1 10 7 44 01 N 124 25 W 7 18 47 12 N 47 20 N 47 27N 47 21N 47 25N 47 27 N 47 45 N 47 24 N 125 08 W 5 5 1 4 19 19 125 05 W 29 20 125 15 W 30 21 125 00 W 14 25 129 05 W 1 26 125 25 W .. 4 15 27 125 10 W 5 28 124 30 W 3 29 18 miles NE. by E Total 3 33 43 347 a 390 a Shot. Miscellaneous data showing positions where fur seals were taken by Canadian and American vessels in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea in 1895. [Data collected by C. H. Townsend and A. B. Alexander.] CANADIAN SCHOONER VICTORIA (NORTHWEST COAST AND BERING SEA). Mar. 1. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 16. Apr. 9. 10. 12. 10. 17. 19. Date. 1895. Latitude. N. 48 10 48 00 48 20 47 50 47 45 48 00 48 30 49 00 58 10 58 25 58 30 58 30 58 44 Longitude. W. 125 30 125 40 125 50 125 10 125 20 126 30 126 30 127 49 139 00 139 40 140 08 140 08 140 00 Males. Females 4 4 6 3 2 2 6 4 4 5 21 1 es. Total. 4 8 6 10 8 14 10 13 6 8 8 10 5 5 8 8 3 9 1 5 4 3 8 10 31 3 4 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Miscellaneous data showing positions where fur seals were taken by Canadian and American vessels in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea in 1895—Continued. CANADIAN SCHOONER VICTORIA (NORTHWEST COAST AND BERING SEA)—Cont'd. Longitude. 40 40 36 44 44 50 50 12 02 45 48 15 48 15 16 15 28 20 17 25 15 47 Males. Females. 6 4 o 4 17 25 11 t 5 9 81 94 33 21 28 34 5 12 1 30 8 15 9 8 5 56 172 18 15 22 48 3 15 1 TotaL 7 6 2 1 4 29 1 55 19 5 28 16 13 14 137 266 51 36 50 82 8 15 AND BERING SEA), COXt 30 1 31 3 1 18 2 20 4 20 2- 36 4 47 n I 07 6 03 •j 1 o 24 4 48 2 32 6 51 88 56 4 28 4 09 9 08 11 45 3 19 20 05 9 25 6 56 70 56 20 46 3 50 24 15 15 33 7 18 24 18 46 21 7 1 15 1 ! 20 13 40 60v 09 99 09 5 18 39 49 24 5 6 10 17 9 10 13 2 1 3 30 10 7 10 3 9 2 59 18 4 54 13 5 30 80 8 9 74 107 4 44 59 6 9 12 21 11 14 24 8 3 6 3 9 118 4 14 16 21 6 29 9 8 129 38 7 78 28 12 51 126 15 1 22 134 216 9 83 83 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 93 Miscellaneous data showing positions where fur seals were taken by Canadian and American vessels in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea in 1895—Continued. CANADIAN SCHOONER FAVORITE (NORTHWEST COAST), L. McLEAN, MASTER. Date. Latitude. N. 48 00 49 06 48 42 48 45 50 03 56 49 57 30 57 18 57 53 57 45 58 12 58 15 58 30 57 48 57 46 58 00 58 15 58 12 57 46 57 46 Longitude. W. 128 23 127 39 127 17 127 23 129 50 138 05 138 30 138 45 139 26 138 50 140 56 141 00 139 40 140 50 141 30 141 38 . 141 40 139 41 138 45 138 00 Males. 4 7 3 3 15 4 2 3 5 20 4 8 7 10 5 8 4 4 1 5 Females. Total. Mar. 9 1895. 4 13 2 9 14 3 15 16 22 *>5 3 5 2 1 12 6 20 6 2 26 28 A r»r. 3 3 6 32 8 4 9 8 10 11 12 2 7 12 5 18 8 19 23 1 4 4 24 25 2 5 Total 122 28 150 If • y "■■■■' ~m CANADIAN SCHOONER SAPPHIRE (NORTHWEST COAST), COX, MASTER. 1895. Feb. 23 v. 48 30 48 00 47 32 48 16 50 57 55 01 57 22 57 38 57 48 57 28 57 15 58 30 58 30 58 38 58 45 58 27 58 58 59 10 59 04 58 24 58 37 58 11 W. 125 20 125 57 125 56 126 04 131 57 135 19 139 30 138 49 138 26 139 38 139 30 139 54 141 15 141 11 141 30 141 46. 140 50 143 18 143 06 140 30 139 36 139 07 • 2 7 5 11 7 4 •5 1 13 2 2 2 25 14 17 5 13 4 3 4 5 3 4 5 4 7 6 4 3 6 Mar. 1 3 5 16 i 20 22 24 12 9 18 13 8 8 1 25 13 27 2 28 2 31 2 Apr. 3 25 4 14 10 17 11 , 5 12 13 16.. , 4 17 18 3 4 19 5 24 3 Total 154 33 187 CANADIAN SCHOONER DORA SIEWERD (NORTHWEST COAST), H. F. SIEWERD, MASTER. 1895. N. W. Feb. 26 47 47 125 25 16 7 23 20 47 25 125 10 29 13 42 22 48 01 47 56 125 00 125 06 4 6 3 5 7 23 11 24 47 58 125 28 6 3 9 28 47 13 124 24 19 13 32 Mar. 1 47 20 124 50 2 6 8 3 45 55 124 42 14 24 38 6 47 12 47 19 47 28 124 45 125 08 124 27 8 2ll 4 16 3 12 36 8 4 9 46 55 46 44 124 50 124 56 19 5 16 8 10 35 12 46 37 124 51 17 39 48 13 47 10 125 00 2 4 6 14 46 26 124 51 3 5 8 26 50 07 129 00 29 34 63 94 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Miscellaneous data showing positions where fur seals were taken by Canadian and American vessels in North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea in 1895—Continued. CANADIAN SCHOONER DORA SIEWERD (NORTHWEST COAST), H. F. SIEWERD, M ASTER—Continued. Date. Latitude. Longitude. W. 135 00 135 00 140 00 140 45 139 43 142 15 142 00 141 12 140 20 ' 140 39 140 30 135 39 Males. Females. Total. 1895. Apr. 1 3 9 10 12 17 N. 55 27 55 27 58 46 58 35 58 46 58 31 58 00 58 14 58 42 58 43 58 23 56 05 2 1 13 10 11 6 9 3 14 4 3 12 2 1 4 4 4 2 17 10 15 6 18 5 14 19 3 23 4 1 2 4 18 24 25 28 5 5 16 Total 287 216 503 CANADIAN SCHOONER WALTER L. RICH (NORTHWEST COAST), BALCOM, MASTER. 1895. Mar. 13 N. 48 58 58 08 57 29 57 20 58 20 58 24 58 41 59 03 55 35 W. 128 35 138 36 138 40 140 00 140 00 140 00 140 07 140 50 135 20 .5 12 6 10 6 8 12 20 4 2 12 2 9 6 11 10 7 3 7 25 24 28 Apr. 1 » 10 19 23.. 8 19 12 19 22 27 28 7 Total 83 62 145 AMERICAN SCHOONER IDA ETTA (COASTS OF JAPAN AND RUSSIA), HUGHES, MASTER. Date. May Mar. 25. 30. Apr. 1. 1895. Latitude. N. 36 15 "*36 32 Longitude. E. 142 25 144*47 Seals. 15 miles off shore. 39 41 39 48 40 06 39 06 39 42 39 44 40 30 41 45 144 11 143 56 146 07 146*49 146 27 145 58 145 55 144 00 Off Cape Yerimo, NW. 15 miles. Off Cape Yerimo, NNE. 10 miles. Off Cape Yerimo, N. 20 miles. Off Cape Yerimo, WNW. 15 miles. Off Cape Yerimo, WNW. 8 miles. Off Cape Yerimo, E. by N. 20 miles, Off Cape Yerimo, E. 25 miles. Date. 1895. May 12. Lati Longi tude. tude. N, E. Off Cape Yerimo, ENE. 2 0 miles. 40 03 146 02 39 57 146 25 40 20 145 44 40 12 146 30 39 57 145 55 40 03 146 19 39 50 145 55 39 55 145 46 39 15 146 00 39 30 146 10 39 38 146 29 39 36 146 26 Seals. June Aug. 20 Cape Nagikinski, SW. 30 miles. 21 Cape Nagikinski, SW. 20 miles. 24 do 26 do 27 Cape Nagikinski, W. 30 miles. 31 1 do Sept. 1 1 Cape Nagikinski, WSW. 25 miles. 2 Cape Nagikinski, SW. 20 miles. 3 Cape Nagikinski, SW. 30 miles. 4 Cape Nagikinski, SW. 25miles. 16 32 35 15 33 29 5 4 21 1 11 31 9 37 35 28 28 10 3 25 6 4 4 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 95 Miscellaneous data showing positions where fur seals were taken by Canadian and American vessels in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea in 1895—Continued. AMERICAN SCHOONER ALLIE J. ALGAR (JAPAN COAST), JONES, MASTER. Date. Mar. |Apr. May June July 9. 11. 12. 14. 20. 21. 22. 24. 26. 29. 30. 3. 5. 12. 13. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 22. 23. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 2. 5. 6. 7. 8. 10. 11. 13. 15. 17. 18. 30. 1. 1895. Latitude. Total. N. 36 24 37 00 36 39 36 24 36 33 37 00 37 09 37 47 37 22 37 26 38 57 39 14 37 35 37 50 38 07 37 59 37 22 37 35 39 05 39 14 39 37 39 35 39 44 41 54 41 49 41 28 41 29 41 21 42 00 41 45 41 43 42 00 41 57 42 10 41 39 43 12 42 23 43 27 43 24 43 28 43 00 43 37 43 50 43 53 44 00 44 17 44 50 45 14 45 00 44 05 44 40 49 09 43 35 Longitude. E. 141 39 141 00 142 13 141 59 142 18 143 35 143 25 142 14 141 41 142 18 143 35 142 48 142 25 141 53 146 32 145 50 145 50 147 07 146 15 146 35 146 23 146 07 145 45 144 30 143 55 142 56 142 28 142 00 141 40 142 40 142 48 142 52 142 49 142 40 142 50 146 39 146 40 146 36 146 21 146 40 146 59 147 00 147 11 147 14 147 20 147 40 148 47 149 00 148 55 148 40 147 45 157 13 156 25 Males. 6 1 50 12 10 8 1 2 20 5 12 14 5 Females. Total. 1 18 12 5 1 49 32 31 29 4 3 39 51 2 2 6 1 5 37 15 19 9 39 37 3 5 3 1 9 23 6 19 4 4 9 20 1 1 701 5 11 I 17 6T 4 16 5 15 3 11 3 4 2- 8 28 7 12 8 20 4 18 1 6 1 1 1 7 25 7 19 2 7 4 5 19 68 22 54 22 53 15 44 2 6 1 4 13 52 11 62 4 6 2 3 9 1 4 9 15 52 11 26 11 20 3 12 9 48 7 44 1 4 1 6 1 4 1 5 14 3 26 3 9 17 36 2 1 2 1 5 3 7 4 18 3 23 1 1 302 1,003 ■jBEEaSEEBSZEBi , ?>c>«*nfa£oc A2/....54 1 ■ " • . - If • ■I 8 Doc .-lH/__ .54 l •C 83t>t .-.«<••>.•-*«•** *jy^T*TOy.-n SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 97 Miscellaneous data showing positions where fur seals were taken by Canadian and American vessels in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea in 1895—Continued. AMERICAN SCHOONER RATTLER (BERING SEA), NEILSEN, MASTER. Date. 1895. Latiti ide. N. 54 57 54 52 55 09 Longitude. W. 167 45 167 32 169 37 Males. Females. Total. CANADIAN SCHOONER MAUD S. (BERING SEA), McKIEL, MASTER. Aug. 1. 2. Total. 1895. N. 54 57 54 52 54 32 54 46 55 13 54 51 54 48 55 53 54 57 54 43 W. 169 35 169 14 169 18 169 35 169 01 168 51 169 39 169 21 169 20 168 55 309 21 301 610 FUR SEALS OBSERVED BY THE AMERICAN WHALER OLGA (NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN), KNOWLES, MASTER. Date. 1895. Apr. 16 17 18 19 20 Latitude. N. 48 14 50 13 51 38 53 05 54 45 Longitude. W. 162 30 160 21 159 20 158 07 157 00 S. Doc. 137, pt. 2- wnwr°^i^i^rrTrxr\\\\ FROM A REPORT ON THE FUR-SEAL ROOKERIES 1 OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 1895. By F. W. True. LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. XL S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries, Office of the Commissioner, Washington, February 4, 1896. Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith certain ifextracts from a report relative to the natural history of the fur seals and the condition of the rookeries on the Pribilof Islands, Alaska, based upon observations made during the season of 1895 by F. W. True, curator of mammals, United States National Museum." You will recall that Mr. True spent the summer of 1895 in making a study of the seal rookeries of the Pribilof Islands independently of Mr. C. H. Townsend. His final report, which will be taken up largely with a discussion of the natural history of the fur seal, will not be completed for some time, but in the preliminary account of his inquiries he covers fully all the main points of direct interest in connection with the present sealing controversy, so far as that subject came within the range of his observations. It is that part of his report which is now forwarded. Yery respectfully, Herbert A. Gill, Acting Commissioner. The Secretary of the Treasury, Washington, D. C. DEAD PUPS. The matter of dead pups is one which I can only discuss briefly, as the terrible mortality reported in recent years occurs late in the season, after the date on which my observations closed. I saw a number of dead pups during my sojourn, but do not think that the total would exceed 150 for all the St. Paul rookeries. The largest number were at the north end of Tolstoi rookery, where I observed 70 in one small area and about 25 more a little farther south, on the 15th of August. The area referred to was occupied earlier in the season by a great mass of seals, and I regard the number of dead pups found here as representing the ordinary mortality of the young. These pups were 99 reCTg»gzrarts«ggffPE s^rercin™ seal life on the pribilof islands. not in the water or at the water's edge or in positions where they could be supposed to have been cast up by storms. On August 2 I counted 23 dead pups on Ketavie rookery. These were all on the higher parts of the rookery, and there were none at the water's edge. A few dead pups were found on the highest parts of several of the rookeries, aud these, as Mr. Townsend suggested, were such as had been worried to death by the bachelors which hang about the rear of the rookeries. On several occasions I saw young bachelor seals snatch pups away from the pods on the higher parts of the rookeries, and badger them about as if they had been cows. On Ketavie rookery, on J uly 27,1 saw a youngish bull at the back of the rookery seize a pup out of one of the upper pods with his teeth and «carry it up the hillside. He dropped it several times, but picked it up :again. The pup presently bit at his assailant, and when the attention of the latter was distracted, ran away down the hill again. Another pup, apparently brought up the slope by this same bull, had crawled in under a rock, so that it could not be reached. On August 5, on Ketavie, I saw a bachelor attempting to copulate with one of these pups. The instinct of reproduction seems to spring up at an early age in the seals, and hence these unnatural assaults on the pups. I agree with Mr. Townsend in thinking that a portion, at least, of the dead pups found high up on the rookeries are such as have been worried to death in the manner indicated. Some of these pups, however, are doubtless such as have wandered away from their mothers, beyond the confines of the rookery, and have died of starvation. ESTIMATES OF NUMBER OF SEALS. When Mr. Townsend arrived on St. Paul in July we endeavored to obtain data for an estimate of the number of seals present. With this in view we went to Ketavie, Lukannon, Tolstoi, and the Lagoon rookeries and made an actual count as far as the conditions would permit. As we proceeded it soon became apparent that to count all of the several classes of seals was impracticable. The first difficulty that we encountered lay in the fact that the roughness of the ground prevented us from seeing some of the harems distinctly, and we were unable to go down among the seals without stampeding them. Later we came upon the triangles or wedges of breeding seals massed as close together as it was possible for them to lie. It was necessary to use a field glass in investigating these groups, and as there were no salient points which could be picked out, as the count proceeded the eye soon became confused and the count lost. The larger groups of pups presented the same difficulty. This class was omitted later on, because on areas which had to be viewed from a distance so large a proportion of pups were concealed by the bowlders that the count could not be at all relied upon. We came eventually to count only the cows. At the Lagoon we counted by passing in front of the rookery in a boat, using a low-power glass. The harems were separated here by considerable intervals, and as the whole rookery was in plain view there was no obstacle to counting. On Ketavie we counted without a glass for the most part, going down among the seals as best we could, and the same course was pursued at Lukannon and Tolstoi. It can not be claimed that our count is mathematically accurate, but I believe that a sufficiently large area was covered to render the inaccuracy of comparatively little consequence. An actual census could be made only by driving all the seals inland and passing them in t* v«t ..;■;•*- ..._'■« .1 w .v -*;■ SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 101 review, or photographing the rookeries from overhead, both of which proceedings are impracticable. The enumeration of cows on the Lagoon, made July 10, was by harems, as follows: [The numbers indicate breeding females in each harem.] 8 7 28 20 15 20 67 1 1 16 8 1 10 1 9 16 8 18 4 20 31 2 41 14 7 1 22 4 1 16 2 41 1 16 3 23 38 1 2 10 18 6 3 25 16 3 4 32 31 4 25 2. 19 1 26 24 2 37 20 4 6 9 48 14 19 16 4 21 15 12 35 7 12 23 16 39 4 26 4 67 24 5 Total, 1,264. The enumeration of cows on Ketavie, made July 8 to 10, beginning at the south, was as follows: [The numbers indicate breeding females in each harem.] 1 21 1 47 29 1 38 12 15 22 1 9 145 (3) 1 9 17 16 1 9 19 12 23 10 2 13 4 50 1 24 3 12 9 2 29 4 10 8 1 18 3 9 93(?) 52 64 5 11 10 25 21 4 4 12 10 1 1 5 24 35 36 35 1 20 29(3) 12 40 11 17 15 28 10 28(4) 1 9 5 9 1 5 19 8 28 13 60 11 45 (3) 14 2 7 75 34 | 8 6 21 13 8 14 10 1 10 52 25 2 • 2 2 15 29 (2) 13 30 42 43 34 5 14 14 30 19 47(4) 23 49 13 3 22 15 0 7 4 10 12 16 8 55 89 32 60(3) 18 1 9 17 Total, 2,640. Note.—The figures in parentheses refer to the number of bulls with the group of cows. In these cases several harems were of course consolidated. Mr. Townsend made an enumeration of a portion of Lukannon rookery on July 12, and found 1,940 cows. The portion of this rookery on which he made no enumeration is sixteen one-hundredths of the total area of Ketavie and Lukannon, and it is necessary, therefore, to add 732 cows in making up the total for the two rookeries, which will then be 5,312 cows. On July 111 counted the cows on that portion of Tolstoi rookery under the cliffs at the south end, as follows: [The numbers indicate breeding females in each harem.] 10 7 32 62 4 19 11 22 33 27 7 3 5 20 10 9 11 7 2 3 8 9 2 4 26 15 19 21 27 25 25 13 10 46 3 51(2) 8 17 8 21 43 41 14 43 13 6 14 8 2 23 6 61 60(3) 34 9 6 3 18 2 16 18 31 11 14 3 12 13 4 17 3 2 44 13 20 9 41 15 13 5 3 20 10 1 7 7 11 6 10 7 5 24 8 1 16 9 4 29 1 27 13 11 14 9 11 Total, 1,624. This portion of Tolstoi rookery is only a small part of the whole area, and the enumeration is chiefly valuable as a basis for ascertaining the average size of harems and for forming an estimate for the whole area. : -1'J pqy ttitct: m^j> 102 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. The area of the several rookeries on St. Paul in July of the present year, as indicated on the maps made by Mr. C. H. Townsend, is shown below. I have divided the total area in the case of each rookery into two parts, on one of which the seals are distributed about as on the parts counted as regards density, and on the other are massed together. The areas are as follows: Upper Zapadnie Lower Zapadnie ... Tolstoi Lagoon Reef Ketavie and Lukannon Little Polavina Big Polavina Northeast Point Not massed. Massed. Square feet. 168,734 131, 725 160, 580 82,241 330,523 226, 303 29, 969 64, 748 378, 240 Square feet. 51, 854 4, 600 80, 220 115, 138 16, 239 361,443 Employing again Mr. Townsend's maps, I find that the 1,264 cows counted on the Lagoon rookery covered an area of 82,241 square feet, making the average occupied by each cow 65 square feet. The 4,110 cows counted on Ketavie and Lukannon rookeries covered 189,712 square feet, or 46 square feet for each cow. On Tolstoi 1,520 cows occupied 44,699 square feet, or 29 square feet for each. The average is as follows: Square feet. Lagoon rookery 65 Ketavie and Lukannon rookeries 46 Tolstoi 29 Average 46 If we divide the number representing the tofal area of the rookeries on St. Paul by 46 we should find thereby the number of cows. It happens, however, as already stated, that on certain portions of the rookeries the seals are massed together, and for these areas it has been decided to consider the average density as double that of the remaining parts, which would give us 23 square feet as the average area occupied by each cow. The cows on the whole area of the Lagoon rookery having been counted, the number obtained by this enumeration will be included instead of an estimate, and the same course will be taken with Lukannon and Ketavie rookeries. The result is as follows: Cows. Lagoon rookery 1,264 Ketavie and Lukannon rookeries 5, 312 Tolstoi, Reef, Little Polavina, Big Polavina, Northeast Point, Upper Zapadnie, and Lower Zapadnie rookeries 54,860 Total 61,436 •*"aB.n»)i«»v» K«**r/*lI..*'^/.-,;i«;'* i*'~^-i_x SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 107 Bringing together the estimates for all the classes of seals, we have the following: St. Paul: Bachelors 24,144 Breeding bulls 3,839 Cows 61,436 Paps 46,077 135,496 St. George: Bachelors Breeding bulls 563 Cows 8,987 Pups 6,741 20,481 Total number of seals on both islands 155, 977 In my judgment the foregoing estimate is fairly reliable; but it should be remembered that it is only an estimate. In a matter so extremely complex, and with factors so constantly varying, I do not think any estimate can be made which will approximate the truth more than somewhat remotely. The chief use of such calculations in the present connection is, in my opinion, for the elimination of fanciful estimates of the number of seals. Thus, a statement that there are a million or half a million seals on the islands may safely be disregarded, as may equally any claim that there are but a few thousand remaining. It is probably as important to know how many seals are on any one or two of the rookeries as to know how many are on all of them, and this can be ascertained with fair accuracy, as shown by the enumerations of Ketavie and the Lagoon rookeries made this year. If it is found in July, 1897, that there are 3,000 cows on the Lagoon rookery, it may be fairly asserted that this rookery has doubled in two years. PRESENT CONDITION OF THE ROOKERIES AS REGARDS THE DECREASE OF SEALS. The three questions to which my attention was directed before visiting the islands as the most important ones for consideration are extremely difficult to answer. They relate to the present conditions as regards the decrease in the number of seals, the cause of the decrease, and the remedy. I realize now, perhaps even more fully than before I visited the islands, how difficult it will be to find a solution to these problems which will fill every need and meet every objection. Nevertheless, I address myself to the task, with the hope that what I have to offer may prove at least suggestive. As regards the decrease in the number of seals, there is little to say. All persons who have visited the islands in recent years are agreed that a decrease has taken place, and I found no reason to dispute this conclusion. Being on the ground during only one season, 1 was unable of course to make comparative observations, but the condition of the rocks and herbage back of the present rookeries testifies in an unmistakable manner to the fact of their greater magnitude in past years. To take one instance: On the great inclined plain or "parade ground" on the reef, which is now covered with low grass and flowers, and from a little distance resembles a lawn of large extent, the cavities of the lava bowlders are filled with a dull felt-like substance, which upon examination proves to be composed chiefly of hairs of fur seals interwoven and matted down. This substance could not be made up from stray hairs C WyM .-• ,»«•/■*•■•*»*• •f.'.'^'V.ttfHl 108 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. blown hither and thither by the wind, or from such as might be left by the passing seals during a drive. It betokens the former presence of numerous seals for a considerable period on ground now completely abandoned. Wherever this matted hair is found abundantly the tops of the rocks are worn smooth, a condition due clearly to the presence at some time of living seals. At the back of all the rookeries, often for a distance of 200 to 300 feet or still more, this phenomenon is observable, and even among the high grass farther back, where the rocks are abundantly covered with lichens, a careful examination reveals the presence of matted hair, though usually in a friable and decomposed condition. On the Beef "parade ground" I examined an area about 50 feet square, which, according to photographs taken by the commission in 1891, was completely bare in that year, and found that it was fully one- half covered with grass and flowering plants. This indicates that some of the changes at least are of very recent origin, and can in nowise be regarded as ancient. Such facts as I have mentioned demonstrate that at no distant time in the past the seals covered much more ground than they did this year. Of the changes which have taken place since last year I can not speak entirely from personal experience. For a knowledge oi' the conditions in 1894 I have relied on the photographs and charts prepared by Mr. Townsend, naturalist of the Albatross. These charts and photographs for 1894 I examined to some extent while on the ground this summer, and more in detail since returning to Washington. In the latter instance I have had the advantage of comparing,"side by side in company with Mr. Townsend, those of 1894 with those of 1895. The work this year was done about ten days later than last, on account of the backwardness of the season. Making all allowances for seasonal and other influences, I have no hesitation in affirming that the seals were considerably less abundant this year than last. As already explained, the photographs were made under conditions unfavorable in many ways, and some of them are not serviceable for comparison. In others the shrinkage of the rookeries is very noticeable and should be evident to untrained eyes. This is true of the views from stations 1, 4, and 5, Northeast Point; stations 21 and 24, Polavina; station 12, Lukannon; stations 14, 14£, and 15, Ketavie; stations 16,17, and 18, Reef; station 11 and Station F, Tolstoi; station 7a, Lower Zapadnie; station, 2 North rookery (St. George), and Station B, Little East rookery (St. George). The changes which are observable result chiefly from a recession from areas of the rookeries, or a general shrinkage along the inland borders. Accompanying these changes is a tendency in breeding grounds, formerly of great continuous length, to break up into detached areas. This is very noticeable at Northeast Point, Polavina, and Lower Zapadnie, St. Paul, and Great East, North, and Zapadnie rookeries, St. George, and may be observed both in the photographs and charts of 1895, when compared with those of 1894. As Mr. Townsend informs me that he will report on these changes in detail, and as the photographs and charts are his own work, and furthermore,, as his experience runs back over many seasons, I do not deem it important to enter more into details here. I agree with Mr. Townsend that a noticeable shrinkage of the breeding grounds has taken place since 1894. I regard the herds as in a very precarious condition as regards preservation, and while it is obviously impossible to fix limits in such a case, if the off-shore sealing operations continue as at present I should expect to see the cows practically exterminated in less than five years. —MMfe >X«^.™*^^'-:';-Sr?'V1'*^'V'l'->''y'^"'v"'iv'^"-1;'' SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 109 CAUSE OF THE DECREASE OF SEALS. It has been generally conceded that the decrease of the seals is due to human interference, and in view of the many known cases of extermination by human agency there is no reason for dissent from this opinion. When we go a step further, however, and inquire what special form of interference is responsible for the results observed, we are met at once by diversity of opinion. Men have located and carried on the ordinary operations of life on the seal islands. They have killed seals on the islands. They have intruded upon the resorts of the seals and driven off certain classes of these animals. They have killed mature males and young on land, and both males and nursing and pregnant females at sea. Some of these operations ceased many years ago, and others are still carried on. Out of all these factors of destruction, old and new, we are called upon to select the one or ones which are responsible for the effects observed, and wnth whose cessation the decrease would likewise cease. In the present state of knowledge I conceive that this can not be done in such a manner as to place the matter beyond dispute. Oonclusions have to be based largely on opinions, rather than on facts, and as long as these opinions can be challenged the conclusions will fail to receive universal acceptance. Putting aside the effects of all past forms of interference, however, as intangible, we know what operations are going on to-day and what is the condition of the seal herds. We know that the seals of all classes have greatly decreased in number and have shown that the decrease is still going on. We know that considerable numbers of male and of nursing and pregnant female seals are killed at sea, and that considerable numbers of male seals are killed on land. Now, whether few or many males remain is of no consequence, so long as there are enough to fertilize the females. My observations during the past summer show that there are enough, and that they are desirous of taking part in reproduction. If this is not true, why are there always males hovering about the water's edge and attempting to intercept the females as they leave the rookeries'? Why are there small harems at the water's edge (and even in the water) which are constantly being broken up by the stronger bulls near by? Why are there new harems formed at the back of the rookeries (the cows with pups) at the close of the season? Why are the pups harassed? If there were not enough bulls to fertilize the females, or if the bulls lacked vigor, none of these things would occur. But they do occur, as I witnessed with my own eyes. Hence, I do not hesitate to state that, in my opinion, the number of bulls is sufficient for present purposes of reproduction, and that the bulls are virile. It is not to be inferred, however, that the number of males has not decreased. This is conceded, but, as already stated, the fact is of no interest in the present connection if enough remain. When we turn to consider the female seals, we find that the question assumes a very different aspect. It is useless to inquire whether there are enough females. Even if the islands of St. Paul and St. George were covered completely with female seals, there still would not be too many, provided there were males enough to fertilize them. When, however, we find the females decreasing year by year, there is every cause for alarm. Taking the condition regarding males as they are to-day, the question we are considering resolves itself to this: What is the cause of the decrease of female seals ? If we can not find a cause *;'*^A*.-«-u*yi;..vv*;^,%-.St-j^^<'^?jji*^*i-»~»*' 110 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. which will be accepted by the unwilling as the sole cause, we can at least point to one which everyone must admit demands serious consideration. We have the sworn testimony of the Treasury agents of the islands that they counted this fall on St. Paul 23,000 dead pups. Every unbiased observer is convinced that the cows suckle only their own offspring; hence, unless these pups died of natural causes, it is certain that 23,000 cows were destroyed at sea. That a large number of cows were destroyed by sealers we know from the investigations of the commission, and we know, also, that the pups were in such positions and condition as to indicate clearly that they died of starvation. Is there any reason to look elsewhere for the cause of the decrease of the females ? Certainly not. Now, whether this is the only cause of the decrease of females or not is of no great moment, since, in its operation, it is a sufficient one to depopulate the rookeries. He would be regarded a very foolish man who should spend time and money in investigating obscure causes of the loss of his fowl while the fox was openly stealing hens from the roost. So long as a sufficient cause of destruction is discovered, it is of no practical importance to search for others, since if this one continues to operate it will destroy the rookeries, whether other causes are discovered and eradicated or not. As it was a part of my instructions to search for obscure deleterious" agencies, however, I will say that I kept the matter constantly in mind, but was unable to discover anything of importance. The seals appeared to be healthy and vigorous. I did not see more than five adult dead seals about the rookeries during my sojourn on St. Paul. These were all males. Mr. Townsend informed me of the presence of a dead female on Ketavie rookery, but I did not see it myself. It may be said that there is no mortality of females on the islands before the pelagic sealing begins, as there certainly would be if the seals were in anywise diseased. No recognized enemies were observed about the islands, with the exception of two killer whales. These I observed for a short time in front of Ketavie rookery, but they appeared only once. The imperfections which one finds among the seals are all such as have their origin in wounds received during combats or result from falling or jumping from high places on rocky ground. REMEDIES FOR THE DECREASE. If it be true that the present shrinkage of the rookeries is due to human interference, as I believe it is, the simplest and most effectual remedy would, of course, consist in stopping for a term of years all sealing operations of whatever character and wherever prosecuted. It is certain that no harm could result to the seal herds from this proceeding, and even if the proposition that the decrease is due to human interference should not be sustained (improbable as that may be), the experiment would be worth all it might cost. It may be deemed, perhaps, that the application of this remedy is impracticable for reasons of state, as well as on account of the injustice to those persons who have money invested in apparatus of the fishery. If the present international situation is such that no change covering the whole fishery can be made, it is useless to consider the subject of direct remedies. It is not within my province to decide whether such a cessation of all sealing operations can or can not be brought about. .Taking it for granted that it can not, I may mention two plans, in the nature of indirect remedies, which seem to me worthy of consideration. One of these SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Ill at least has occurred to other investigators, but whether prior to my own studies I can not say. It appears to me entirely feasible to brand the seals with a property mark. If the cows are to be so treated, it would be best to place the brand on the back, where it could be plainly seen. This would also* have the effect of rendering the skins of the cows unmarketable, and there would be no object in destroying them. It is, of course, taken for granted in proposing this plan that property so branded would be recognized as property on the high seas- Whether this would be the case I can not venture to decide.1 KILLING OF FEMALES BY THE GOVERNMENT OBJECTIONABLE In conclusion, it may be proper for me to remark that I should deprecate most earnestly the adoption of any plan to bring the fur-seal question to an end by a wholesale butchery of all the seals, male, female, and young, on the Pribilof Islands. I do not think that our Government or any other could maintain its dignity while pursuing such a course. It could only be regarded as a work of spite, which would be unbecoming in an individual and much more so in a nation. No one having the smallest spark of love for nature and her works who had visited the fur-seal islands could for an instant entertain a proposition for the slaughter of the seal herds. To any such it would seem little less than wholesale murder. Putting sentiment aside, it does not seem to me that such a course is necessary. Even if the patrol of Bering Sea is suspended and sealers are allowed to approach the islands, the time will speedily come when sealing as an industry will cease to be profitable and will be abandoned. There will still be a remnant of seals which, unmolested, will increase and once more cover the breeding grounds. In the interval there would be time for the cultivation of public sentiment in this country and Europe favora]ble to the preservation of the seals, and to arrange plans of international protection. On the other hand, if the breeding seals are slaughtered on the rookeries, one more species will be added to the already formidable list of those which have been exterminated by unwise and improvident human action. Such a proceeding would be in the highest sense immoral, and no less inconsistent with the true aims of a civilized nation. 1 Mr. Trne suggests further in respect to this subject that, in case of the presence of pelagic sealers in Bering Sea next season, the entire body of seals might be driven back from the rookeries and retained in the inland lakes and lagoons for about six weeks, or during the period when pelagic sealing is mainly carried on in that region. The execution of such a plan is entirely practicable with regard to all grown seals of both sexes, but it would result in the destruction of the pups born that season. If, however, the seals were held inland for only three or four weeks, the majority of the pups would probably be saved, as they could exist for that length of time without feeding, while the retention on land of the grown seals, even for so short a space of time, would undoubtedly cause the abandonment of nearly all pelagic sealing. cyg^TEgpgys: j i f WTO-M^-am^^: « OBSERVATIONS DURING A CRUISE ON THE SEAL' ING SCHOONER LOUIS OLSEN, AUGUST, 1894. '•.;• By A. B. Alexander. LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. IT. S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries, Washington, D. C, January 5, 1895. Sir: In response to your request of the 3d instant for copies of the reports for 1892, 1893, and 1894 of Mr. Townsend on the seal rookeries of Alaska, and the report for 1894 of Mr. Alexander on-pelagic sealing, I beg to state that no report on the condition of the seal rookeries in 1892 was made by Mr. Townsend, the subject having received the attention of Mr. J. Stanley-Brown, a special agent of the Treasury Department. Mr. Town sen d?s report for 1893 was transmitted to the Secretary of the Treasury on February 26, 1894, and a second copy, as also Mr. Townsend's preliminary report covering the work of 1894, to the Assistant Secretary, Mr. Hamlin, on December 4 and 5, 1894. Herewith I have the honor to forward copy of the report of Mr. Alexander cover - ing his observations during the summer of 1894 on pelagic sealing. Yery respectfully, Herbert A. Gill, Acting Commissioner. Hon. C. S. Hamlin, Acting Secretary of the Treasury. CRUISE OF THE LOUIS OLSEN IN BERING SEA. On May 28,1894,1 left Seattle, Wash., in the City of TqpeJca for Sitka, and from there took passage in the Crescent City for Unalaska. Soon after arriving at the latter place I joined the Albatross and remained by her until the evening of the 29th of July, when I joined the pelagic sealing schooner Louis Olsen, of Astoria, Oreg., Captain Guillams, master, who very willingly gave me passage for the purpose of making observations on the seals taken by him during the open season in Bering Sea. The next day, in latitude 54° 38' north, longitude 167° 04' west, we saw our first seals, 20 in number, 12 of which were " sleepers.'7 In the afternoon we saw 6 seals about a half mile from the vessel playing in a bunch of seaweed. The sea at the time was perfectly smooth, with a light air stirring. Two hunters and myself started out in a boat to 113 S. Doc. 137, pt. 2 -8 j^i^iiiUjitW!****'*-*-* 114 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 1 - watch them and see how near we could approach without disturbing them. We soon learned that they were unusually tame, as we approached near enough to touch one with a spear pole. They showed little signs of fear notwithstanding that we were within 30 feet of them for fully five minutes. Diving under the seaweed and suddenly thrusting their heads up through it seemed to afford them great pleasure. They paid but little attention to us and seemed almost indifferent as to how near we approached, so long as we did so quietly. This caused the hunters to exclaim several times, "If we only had a gun we could kill them all." Under the circumstances it was but natural that the thought of a gun should be uppermost in their minds. Early in the spring, both on the Northwest coast and off the coast of Japan, seals are sometimes found which evince little signs of fear, but after one day's shooting on the ground they become very wild and mistrustful, and, like a crow and some land animals, seem to scent a gun in the air. The lollowing day, July 31, seals were plentiful. The wind being light during the previous night, our position had changed but little. On August 1, at a very early hour, the spears were brought forth and the seal on them broken. While this was going on many remarks were made in regard to the first day's trial. Some of the hunters were already discouraged, and were confident that they were only wasting time by attempting to use spears. The thought of being obliged to adopt the primitive weapon of the Indian was indeed humiliating to them. A few on board felt more hopeful and were willing to give the spear a fair trial. Ever since leaving Unalaska the hunters had been practicing at throwing the spear pole. Every piece of floating seaweed or other object which came within range had been a target. On several occasions the boats had been lowered and a supply of chips and small pieces of wood taken along. These were thrown ahead of the boat as targets to throw at. It was soon found that an object that could be readily hit at a distance of 25 or 30 feet from the vessel was not so easily reached from a boat, as the smallest wave would cause the latter to move just enough to make the pole go wide of its mark. A day's practice in throwing from the boats had the effect of teaching the hunters the various ways of holding the spear to make more sure of its hitting the mark under the many conditions of sea and wind. All this time spear throwing had been carried on with lifeless objects for a mark. The opportunity was about to present itself of exhibiting skill in throwing at something which, if missed the first time, would not be likely to remain stationary long enough to give the marksman another trial. A cool head and steady nerves would be the special requirements to insure a successful day's hunt should seals be plentiful. The first day of August did not prove a success so far as sealing was concerned, the weather being too foggy to send out the boats. Scattering seals were observed all day, but they were all " travelers"; that is, they were all moving in various directions. Our noon position was latitude 56° ll7 north, longitude 172° 01' west. The next day seals were less numerous. None were observed in the forenoon; in the afternoon 12 were seen, of which all but 1 were traveling to the westward. This individual was asleep; a boat was quickly lowered and the hunter on watch was rowed toward it. Before the boat had covered half the distance the seal showed signs of waking and shortly after becoming aware of approaching danger it disappeared. Our noon position on this day was latitude 57° 21' north, longitude 173° 46' west. Seals here were n6t so plentiful as they were farther south. In the afternoon we hove to and caught 2 cod in 65 fathoms of water. No more seal life was -.-i SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 125 over several times, stop suddenly to scratch themselves, and stand upon their heads with their hind flippers about 2 feet out of water. They repeatedly performed this operation. When quite near them one of the seals lifted its head up, but the sight of the vessel caused no alarm. Having no boat to lower or spear to throw, a loud noise was made by shouting and beating upon a tin can. This did not have the effect of frightening them, but a light thump on the rail of the vessel caused them to dive instantly, and when next seen they were about 200 yards away. Pausing to look at the object which had frightened them, they then swam rapidly away in an easterly direction. From the above it would appear that seals are ordinarily but little frightened by the presence of vessels, provided they are to leeward of them. Had we been on the windward side the seals would have taken alarm almost instantly, and would either have dived or swam rapidly awav. At 1 p. m. a heavy fog bank appeared in the northwest, and shortly afterwards the canoes and one boat returned. The other boat had evidently gone astiay, but as the weather was smooth no great anxiety was entertained for her safety. Forty five seals were brought on board, 26 being males and 19 females. All the females except 2 were with milk. Their stomachs were mostly empty. Through the night the weather continued foggy. Early the next morning, August 3, a sharp lookout was kept for the missing boat, and also for seals. No attempt had been made to lower the canoes although the sea was comparatively smooth. The light fog which hung over the water, in connection with the fact of the missing boat, caused the Indians to hang back. At 7 a. m. a sleeping seal wras observed under our lee close aboard, but not in a position to detect us by the sense of smell. A canoe was soon launched and started in pursuit, but the short, choppy sea made it somewhat difficult to capture it. In calm weather, or at times when there is only a light wind stirring, a canoe in approaching a seal is generally paddled directly from the leeward, but in a choppy sea, such as prevailed on this occasion, an Indian always approaches side to the wind, which brings the canoe in the trough of the sea and prevents it from making any noise that would disturb the " sleeper." About noon the missing boat returned, bringing the skins of 2 seals, 1 male and 1 female. At 1 p. m. another sleeping seal was observed close under our lee. In ninety-nine cases out of a hundred a sleeping seal will awaken when a vessel is close to it to windward, but not so with this individual, for it slept on wholly unconscious of danger, and was easily captured. At this time the weather showed signs of clearing, and soon afterwards the canoes were lowered. The vessel continued jogging to the westward under sealing canvas. One vessel was in sight. Three hours later the canoes began to return, the wind having increased in force, accompa- • nied by a choppy sea, which prevented seals from sleeping. They were reported scarce, and the few taken bore out this statement. The day's hunt amounted to only 13 skins, 6 males and 7 females. Four of the females were with milk. Two of the males were quite large, about 5 years of age or over, the others from 3 to 4 years. Very few seals had jbeen observed from the canoes, and those noticed awake were traveling to the southwest. In the morning of August 4 the weather was foggy and the wind ^northwest and moderate. White hunters would not have hesitated about going out in this kind of weather, but the Indians indulged in . ***m**Jb6**n ii***** * 26 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. considerable unnecessary talk and paid no attention to a few scattering sleeping seals that were observed among patches of seaweed. It was only when an occasional glimpse of the sky was seen through the clouds and fog, and indications of good weather were plainly visible, that the Indians showed a disposition to hunt. At 10 o'clock all the boats went out. At the time of lowering two other sealing vessels were in sight. During the absence of the canoes no seals were observed from the vessel, although floating seaweed was plentiful. The canoes returned early in the afternoon, on account of a heavy fog bank which suddenly shut down. Only 16 seals had been taken, 8 males and 8 females. Their stomachs were entirely empty, which would seem to indicate a scarcity of surface fish in this locality. One of the hunters spoke the schooner Annie C. Moore, which reported having taken 65 seals, a comparatively poor catch, considering that the weather had been fairly good. The following day (August 5) the weather was not suitable for sealing, owing to fog and mist most of the time. The wind was from the west-southwest to east-southeast, gradually increasing from a gentle to a fresh breeze, accompanied by a sea sufficiently choppy to prevent seals from sleeping. One " sleeper," however, was observed from the vessel and captured. On stormy days a lookout is kept by the hunters, and the one who first sees a seal is entitled to stand in the bow of the canoe as spears- man. At such times three men go in a canoe, the weather usually being too rough for one man to manage it. No selection of canoe is made, the most handy one being used, and also the first spear that can be gotten hold of. In the afternoon we stood to the east-southeast 18 miles, and during the night to the south by west 17 miles, sighting Unalaska Island on the morning of the 6th. The weather was stormy and blowing a moderate gale from southeast, with falling barometer. The noon observation placed us in latitude 55° Ol7 north, longitude 168° 07' west, which showed that we had been in a strong southerly current for the past twenty-four hours. Later in the day we ran 19 miles on a northwest course and hove to on the port tack under a two-reefed foresail and fore-staysail and trysail. In the evening we passed close to the schooner San Jose. During the night the wind hauled to the southwest and decreased in force to a very fresh breeze. At times during the following day the sea was very rough, not wholly due to the wind, but caused by a strong current running to the southward. At noon the fog and clouds cleared enough to enable us to get an observation— latitude 54° 56' north, longitude 167° 27' west. In the afternoon we stood to the northward at a rate sufficient to offset the effect of the current. Late in the day we spoke the schooner Walter L. Rich, which had taken only 65 seals. She had been cruising to the westward of our present position, near the 60-mile zone, and while in that region had seen but few seals. Toward evening two young seals played about the vessel for some^ time. They were enticed quite near by whistling, but not close enough to spear. It is only rarely that seals are speared from the deck of a? vessel. The young will often approach very near and play about, some-1 times for an hour or more, but keeping out of reach. Occasionally, however, their curiosity overcomes their customary prudence, and at! such times they are generally captured. In the morning of August 8 there were indications of clearing weather, with rising barometer and an occasional clear spot in the sky. A dozen papsESESEEHSSS bssrkh WOTmtimw . _*«—ftWi»<«£w*«*«"i *■ » '■^n*f*A*r^£fWJT>i?i1v* ■• SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 127 or more seals, in bands of three and four, were noticed, causing considerable commotion among the Indians. A week of the sealing season had already passed, and only a few seals had been captured, in consequence of which the Indians were becoming restless. At 8 a. im, wore ship and shook the reef out of the foresail, but in a short time the fog again settled down, and remained so for the remainder of the day. In the afternoon we saw quite a large number of seals, more than at &ny time since entering the sea. They were not moving in any particular direction. Orcas or killer whales were plentiful, and kept close to the seals, but they did not have the effect of driving them from the ground. The sealers claim that the orcas destroy large numbers of seals annually, especially in and about the numerous passes through the Aleutian Islands and off the coast of Japan. Many hunters say that when out in their boats it is not an unfrequent occurrence to see orcas devour seals. Cue hunter on board of the Siewerd informed me that on two occasions, off the Japan coast, orcas attempted to take the seals that he had shot. During the afternoon we saw five other sealing vessels. On August 9 the canoes were put over for the first time in five days. The white hunters made a start at 9 a. m., the weather having moderated, and being prompted so to do by the sight of a sleeping seal. The Indian hunters held back for a time, but several other seals being observed, the remaining canoes were lowered. During most of the time while the hunters were absent, numerous birds and whales and several porpoises were observed about the vessel. Early in the afternoon the wind began to increase in force and the canoes to return. By 4 o'clock they were all on board, having secured 20 seals, of which 13 were males and 7 females. The stomachs were nearly all empty, a piece of squid being taken from one and a few fish bones from another. One of the females had lost a hind flipper, and shot were found in two of the skins. One of the seals represented by these skins had been recently wounded, the other probably some time early in the spring, the shot being found encysted. All of the females were in milk; the males were all young bachelors. Two vessels, the F. M. Smith and Saucy Lass, were in sight at the time the canoes returned. The captain of the former came on board and reported having taken 105 skins. He also said that the schooner Triumph had obtained 283; Maud S., 240; C. D. Band, 100, and the Saucy Lass between 60 and 70. On the following morning (August 10) the weather was cloudy and cool. At 7 o'clock the canoes and boats started out; at. the time of their going the sea was long and rolling, and the temperature of the water 2 degrees below that of the air. When the air is a great deal colder than the water, experienced hunters do not, as a rule, expect to find many sleeping seals. They state, however, that there are exceptions to this rule, but in most cases extra cold air makes them restless and very difficult to approach within spearing distance; but with shotguns they may, when in this condition, be killed with comparative ease. In the middle of the forenoon two vessels were sighted. Only one seal was noticed from the vessel. This individual was "mooching," a term used by the hunters to indicate swimming at the surface of the water with only a very small portion of the body exposed, occasionally thrusting the head out far enough to breathe. Seals frequently swim this way on raw, cold days, when they may readily be shot with guns, but are not easily approached with spears. At 2 p. m. the Indians began to return, much earlier than they should BMiKW'Ji^l k. .MtinW********1 128 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. I have done, having lost patience and become discouraged. They lack the persistence and judgment of the white hunters, and will give up the chase on the slightest pretext. The latter, on the contrary, will remain out as long as a chance remains of adding another skin to their catch. One hunter, however, had secured 14 seals, the largest catch of any one canoe since entering the sea. The total number of seals in the day's catch was 73, 18 being males, and 55 females. Their stomachs, like those previously examined, contained but little food; only a few pieces of fish and fish bones were found. In one of the canoes 3 female seals had been skinned; of those brought on board 3 were without milk. When asked if the seals skinned in the canoe were in milk, the Indians said they had not noticed. If the condition of the seals had been observed the same answer would have been given, for as soon as these Indians learn that certain information is wanted they are very reticent, and but little dependence can be placed in what they do say. Seemingly they have been taught to look with suspicion on every person in search of sealing data. The canoes that went to the northwest of the vessel were more successful than those that went in other directions, and the one that brought in the 14 seals hunted about 6 miles to the northwest of all the other canoes in that locality. A great many traveling seals were observed, all bound to the northward. Nearly all information concerning the direction in which seals were traveling was obtained from the white hunters. Indians, as a rule, pay but little attention to traveling seals, generally attempting to capture only those that are asleep, but sometimes they will endeavor to spear them when rolling and finning. In two of the seals taken shot were found, the wounds being comparatively fresh—not more than a week old. On August 11 the canoes and boats went out at 5 o'clock, light wind and cloudy weather prevailing all day. In the afternoon sleeping seals, two and three in a bunch, were frequently observed from the vessel. Whales were plentiful from sunrise until dark. The smoke of a revenue cutter could be noticed to the southwest all the morning,, the sight of which caused our canoes to hover much nearer the vessel than usual, the Indians having a dread of all Government vessels. At 10 a. m. a canoe belonging to the schooner Triumph came alongside with 5 seals. Our canoes began to return at 5.30 p. m. and continued to come in until 7 o'clock, when the last one arrived. The largest catch was 10 skins and one canoe obtained nothing. Sleeping seals were reported in small bunches from 1 to 2 miles apart. The hunters who happened to be near these bunches did fairly well, but a few miles to the southwest only few seals were found. Traveling seals were also plentiful among the bunches. Considering the fine weather prevailing and the number of seals observed from the vessel the catch was com-1 paratively small, only 89 having been taken—10 males and 79 females. Sixty-five of this number were examined. The stomachs in 49 were empty, 13 contained liquid matter, and 7 material which it would be possible to identify; the latter was preserved. A large number of canoes hunting on the same ground tends to destroy the chances of a good catch by any of them. Canoes from other vessels were in close proximity to ours and none of them did well. This day's catch was made 12 miles north and 9 miles west from that of the day before. On August 12 the hunters made an early start, the weather being cloudy and cool, the wind from the westward and light; sea smooth; temperature of air and water the same. Later in the forenoon a heavy BSB SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 129 fog bank threatened to envelop us, and shortly after noon it came in thick, causing all the canoes to return, having obtained only 15 seals. On August 13 the weather was unsuitable for sealing, being cloudy and threatening; the wind fresh from the southwest and west southwest. In the morning we were in company with the schooners Triumph and Sapphire, of Victoria, the former having taken 500 skins and the latter 450 skins. Captain Siewerd and the writer went on board of the Sapphire. It had been uoticed that the water about us was very dark in color, much darker than usual, and it had also been observed that in localities where we had taken the most seals the water had been the most discolored. Captain Siewerd had on more than one occasion noticed that seals frequent water of this character in considerable numbers, and had noted the fact in his log. Captain Cox, of the Triumph, stated that when in Bering Sea last year he got most of his catch in this locality, namely, latitude 54° 56' north, longitude 168° 15' west. He found seals at the commencement of the voyage in water very much discolored, and he endeavored to keep in such water as much as possible. This experiment resulted in his averaging 126 seals for each time the canoes were lowered during the month of August, 1894. On the strength of meeting with such good success, he has been cruising this season on the same ground, and is now more conviuced than ever that seal life is more abundant in discolored water than in clear water. Captain Cox attributed the poor catch of seals on August 11 to the great number of canoes roaming over a comparatively small area. On the day mentioned the Sapphire took only 68 seals and the Triumph 73. A few days before a large bull seal was captured by the Sapphire with two spears embedded in its body. On the forenoon of the next day (August 14) the weather did not bid fair for sealing, the sea being choppy and the wind fresh from the west- southwest. No seal life was observed until the middle of the day, when one seal was noticed asleep not far from the vessel, and so soundly that the flapping of the canvas did not disturb it. It was captured. Its stomach was empty. At 12.15 p. m. the weather began to show signs of moderating, and soon afterwards the canoes were lowered in latitude 55° 3' north, longitude 167° 45' west, where a number of seals were observed playing. The good weather was of short duration, however, the canoes returning by 3.15 p. m., a heavy fog having settled over the water. The white hunters did not come in until nearly dark, thus showing the difference between the two classes. The fog lifted in about an hour after the Indians returned, but they could not be induced to go out again. In several instances where Indians have become discouraged and wanted to return home they have, in order to accomplish their purpose, broken their spears and smashed their canoes, thereby breaking up the voyage. Previous to about two years ago there was no law in British Columbia regulating the conduct of Indian hunters on sealing vessels, and the result was that every possible advantage was taken of the situation. Under the law recently passed Indians are now held accountable as much as white men for the success of the voyage. The boats containing the white hunters brought back 4 seals, making the total number for the day 30, of which 14 were males and 16 females. The females were all adults, and with milk; the males were small, from 3 to 4 years old. Only three stomachs contained food. In one young male's stomach was found a number of squid beaks; in the stomach of S. Doc. 137, pt. 2 9 M ' VU--*»^v«»i^<^«i*'tf&r^'ii^ JIWW.WWW****' 130 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. a female, a piece of squid; and in another, material resembling partly digested crustaceans. The water through which we had passed was considerably discolored, and the few seals taken were captured where crustaceans were the most abundant. In the evening large flocks of guillemots, petrels, and auks were noticed, apparently feeding. No small fish being noticed, it was supposed that the birds were feeding on minute surface life. On August ^ii} the weather was very pleasant, only light airs disturbing the water, and a finer day for sealing could not be desired. By 5 a. m. all the boats had left the vessel, not returning until about the same hour in the evening. A considerable number of sleeping and traveling seals were in sight most of the day. Those that were traveling were not, so far as was observed, going in any one direction. Sometimes a bunch of two or three would suddenly start toward the southeast, swim rapidly for a few minutes, stop, and go in an opposite direction. Frequently four or five would make a complete circle around the vessel at a distance of a quarter of a mile. In a few instances young seals came and played about, diving and swimming, etc. An abundance of seals was seen from the vessel, but as they occur in bands more or less widely separated, it was not certain that the canoes and small boats would get among them. All through the day whales and birds were numerous and the water was very much discolored, signs now looked upon as favorable indications for a successful day's hunt. At 4 p. m. the boats began to return and by 6 o'clock they had all arrived except one. The day proved fairly successful, 99 seals having been taken, 31 males and 68 females. Nine was the highest catch and 1 the lowest by a single boat or canoe. They were by far the largest seals yet obtained, only 8 of the females being under 3 years of age. All of the stomachs were examined, but only 10 of the number contained food, some a small amount of liquid matter, and others Alaskan pollock and what appeared to be pieces of cod. In the evening the wind began to freshen from the east-southeast and later the stars were visible for the first time since we had entered the sea. All through the night the wind was fresh, causing a choppy sea by morning. During this time we had worked 20 miles to the westward. A sharp lookout had been kept for the missing canoe and a torchlight was displayed at frequent intervals. No boats were lowered during the day, the conditions being unfavorable. The wind did not blow hard at any time, but was strong enough to prevent the seals from sleeping. In the afternoon we spoke the schooner Louis Olsen, which had taken 30 seals the day before. At 4 p. m. we attempted to sound in latitude 55° 15' north, longitude 1689 west, but got no bottom, although we were close to the edge of the bank. Just before dark a young seal came alongside and began to play about the vessel, first on one side and then on the other, affording great amusement to the Indians. After a good many wild throws it was captured and proved to be a female. On August 17 a fairly good day's work was accomplished. Light airs prevailed from southeast and east-southeasjb, with frequent calms. Light fog and showers occurred several times during the day, but they were not heavy enough to prevent seals from sleeping. Early in'Jfche morning a young seal came alongside and was taken. At 0 a. m. all the canoes were lowered; after their departure no seals were seen from the vessel. Early in the afternoon a canoe belonging to the schooner San Jose boarded us and reported that vessel as having 530 skins. At 7.30 • ■■■•■•--■*. " imaaaauJLU^ SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS; 131 p. m. our hunters returned bringing 85 seals, 28 males and 57 females; All of the females were exceptionally large; the males were all young bachelors, from 4 to 5 years old. A careful examination was made of the stomachs, only 6 of which contained food. In one stomach was found small pieces of squid, in the others small bones and pieces of fish. The catch to-day was not very evenly distributed among the boats, the highest bringing in 14, and four 1 each. On August 18 the wind was from the southeast by south to souths southwest, decreasing from a stiff* to a gentle breeze. The sea was choppy in the morning, and a long rolling swell prevailed in the afternoon. The weather was foggy and variable, all of which conditions were unfavorable for sealing. At noon there were signs of clearing up, and shortly after that the canoes were lowered in latitude 55° 51' north, longitude 168° 32' west. The Indians had no great desire to go out, and probably would not have ventured had it not been that the schooner Willard Ainsworth was a short distance away and had already lowered her boats. Five other vessels were also in sight. At the end of three hours the hunters returned, having secured only 2 seals—1 male and 1 female. Very few seals had been seen, the only "sleepers" being the 2 that were captured. The others were traveling in various directions. The next day, August 19, rain prevented seals from sleeping. At 8 a. m. the canoes were lowered, but the weather did not give promise of satisfactory results, even in case seals were plentiful. The canoes remained out only two hours, returning with 2 males and 2 females. Their stomachs, like those of yesterday, were empty. The mate of our vessel while absent had boarded the schooner Florence M. Smith, and learned that she had taken 546 seals. On the 15th she secured 160 seals; her position on that day having been not far from where we hunted—latitude 55° 08' north, longitude 167° 40' west. He was also told that our canoe which went astray on the 15th had taken 12 seals, making our total catch for that day 111 skins. Shortly after the boats returned a sleeping seal was observed close aboard, and although it was raining hard it slept on, wholly unmindful of the weather. Such an occurrence is very unusual, for it is seldom that seals rest well while it is raining, unless they have become thoroughly exhausted by a long spell of rough weather. Later in the afternoon a few traveling seals were seen; they frequently changed their course, but the general direction of their movements was northwesterly. We had been in discolored water all day, but late in the afternoon we .suddenly jogged out of it into clear water. The noon observation, latitude 54° 56' north, longitude 168° west, indicated that we were in a strong south-southwest current. On August 20 a very satisfactory catch was made, the wind being a light breeze from the westward, and the sea smooth. A light fog hung low over the water at times, occasionally clearing for the space of half to three-quarters of an hour, which enabled the hunters to keep track of the vessel. The boats were lowered at 4.30 a. m., at which time seven other sealing vessels were in sight. During the afternoon we frequently saw canoes lower their sails, indicating that they were among seals. We could not tell to which vessel they belonged, as both boats and vessels were well mixed up together. One canoe returned early in the afternoon with 11 skins, and by 7 p. in. Ill seals had been lajided on deck, 44being males and 67 females. Sixty-two of the latter were nursing females. All the males were from 4 to 5 years old except 2, which were about 6 years old. Squid and «*?•£*« ^SWES^MKrrt"? ^,*^**'*U^.*t»*Ut«*^^*^«*»*w<'* 132 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. pollock made up the bulk of the food found in their stomachs, a few being gorged with it. In proportion^ to the number of seals taken, however, only a few contained food. The squid and pollock were in a comparatively fresh state. From the stomach of one male an eelpout was taken. It is a fact worth mentioning that all the seals taken by us to-day were found in "streaks" of discolored water from 1 to 3 miles wide, and extending nearly in a north and south direction. The character of the water could hardly be accounted for by our close proximity to the bank, for if such had been the case it would have been the same all over. It had previously been noticed that these discolored bands ran parallel to each other in northeast and southwest or northwest and southeast directions. Water in this condition would not ordinarily be noticed from the deck of a steamer unless on the lookout for it. The mate reported seeing an abundance of Alaskan pollock jumping and many traveling seals in pursuit of them. Most of the seals taken to-day were captured asleep, only four having been awake when speared. The latter weie "mooching." In and about the neck of a male seal were found several shot wounds, with blood oozing from them. Another seal had a bullet hole close to its right forward flipper. On the morning of August 21 there was every indication of favorable sealing weather. The sky was dark and cloudy, but the wind was light and the sea smooth. The Indians went out at an early hour. Not long after their departure we spoke the schooner Agnes McDonald, which had picked up our hunters who went astray on the 15th. The McDonald reported having 900 skins. Her white and Indian hunters were equally divided as to numbers, and the former had taken between 40 and 50 more seals than the latter. The Indians of the Northwest Coast have always been of the opinion that white men could never become expert in the use of the spear, and this spring they ridiculed the idea when told that white hunters were to be employed on a few vessels. If white men will only exercise the same patience when hunting with spears as with shotguns, they will soon become as proficient in its use as the Indians. Such a result would be greatly to the advantage of captains and vessel owners, as the Indians have had the opportunity heretofore of dictating their own terms. At noon a heavy fog settled down, causing the boats to return; but fairly good results were obtained, 69 seals being taken—12 males and 57 females The males were small, ranging in age from 2 to 4 years. Forty-eight of the females were exceptionally large, 4 medium in size, and 2 about 2 years old. The first mentioned were all with milk, the others without. An examination of their stomachs showed that they had been feeding largely on squid, Alaskan pollock, and salmon, a considerable amount of which could not have been in their stomachs more than a short time, as it was very fresh in appearance. The mate reported seeing, while hunting, a small school of squid, but observed no seals among them. The other white hunters noticed numerous small fish jumping, and frequently seals in pursuit of them. The fish could not be approached near enough to determine their species. At the time of lowering the canoes a dead whale was seen to windward, about 1^ miles distant. We kept in sight of it all day. In the evening, after the work of skinning had been finished, a party of Indians went to it and brought back a quantity of blubber. The head mmmuumu SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 133 had been cut off. Numerous birds were hovering over the carcass and many were feeding on it, but no seals were noticed near at hand. On August 22 the boats were lowered at an early hour, the weather being similar to that of the day before, with light and gentle winds from the westward. At the time of lowering 4 other vessels were in sight, directly to windward. This, of course, placed our boats in a bad position, as a windward berth is superior to all others. When following in the wake of other boats only poor results are to be expected, as the windward hunters disturb the sleeping seals. At noon a hunter on the Agnes McDonald, who came on board, reported his vessel as having 920 skins, the highest catch for one day having been 253, and the next highest 180. The 253 seals were taken on the 15th, and not far from our position on that date. The hunter informed the writer that on the day before he speared a large male just as it came to the surface with a red rock fish in its mouth. The fish was alive, and as it was not at all mutilated it was taken on board and cooked. He also stated that he speared a sleeping seal close to the floating carcass of a dead one. Indians claim that seals will not remain where carcasses are floating, but this is not always true, for on several occasious we had noticed seals among such objects. At 4 p. m. a heavy fog set in, putting an end to further hunting for the day. Forty-four seals composed the catch, 12 being males and 32 females. The males were all young bachelors and all the females were in milk except 2. The stomachs of 33 were empty, 11 contaiued pieces of squid, salmon, pollock, and numerous fish bones. In the evening we shaped our course to north-northeast, and during the night ran 25 miles in order to get near our position of the 21st. In the morning the weather was unfit for sealing, and as the day advanced the chances grew less favorable. At 10 a. m. we sounded in 90 fathoms, the first time we had been on soundings since leaving Unalaska. At 4 p. m. our longitude by observation was 168° 05' west, latitude at noon 55° 28' north, near where the 69 seals had been taken on the 21st. In the evening we were boarded by officers from the revenue cutter Bush. On August 24 the weather was too variable to entertain hopes of success at hunting. A heavy, wet fog in the morning, combined with a moderate breeze and choppy sea, prevented an early start. At 7.30 a. m. a slight clearing caused the canoes to be lowered. The signal gun was kept firing at short intervals until 10 o'clock, when the fog entirely cleared. The spell of good weather was of short duration, however,, for at noon a squall from the north brought all the hunters back. In the short time that the boats were out 21 seals were taken. This was encouraging, for it indicated that we were on good sealing ground. Most of the seals captured were restless, few being sound asleep, or, in sealers' parlance, they did not " lay up " well. The mate came across two seals sleeping side by side, one of which was speared. Instead of the other one becoming alarmed and diving, as is usually the case, it remained near its struggling companion until the latter was hauled into the boat. The food found in the stomachs of the seals to-day dicL not vary much from that recorded in those previously examined in this, locality, namely, squid, squid beaks, salmon, pollock, and fishbones. The males were comparatively large; the females were all adults and with milk. During the night we stood to the westward 50 miles, and then hove to. The weather on August 25 prevented sealing, being cold with a fresh breeze from north to north by east, accompanied by a rough sea. The 134 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. vessel was hove to under sealing canvass. Excellent observations were taken, it being the first time the sun had remained out for any length of time since the cruise began. All day birds had been numerous, and occasionally a sleeping seal was observed; sometimes two and three were seen together. This, combined with the great number of birds, assured us that we were on good ground. We frequently wore ship in order to hold our position. In the evening rain squalls passed over. On the morning of August 26, the wind and sea having subsided, the canoes were lowered in latitude 55° 15' north, longitude 170° 53' west. The weather was pleasant but cool, the air being 2 degrees colder than the water. This difference, according to the theory of many sealers, would cause seals to "lay low," or, to put it in clearer terms, they would sleep with less of their bodies exposed. In view of the number of seals observed before the boats went out, a large catch was anticipated, nor were we disappointed, for in the even- Jog when the last canoe had returned there were 157 seals on deck. The opinions advanced to the effect that seals are more plentiful where birds occur seem to be entitled to consideration, and it is very probable that had we not heeded their presence yesterday, and had sailed by them, our catch to-day would not have been large. Our captain had become thoroughly convinced of the value of these signs after years of experience. The canoes were all back at 6.30 p. m., having been absent over twelve hours. In the forenoon seals were inclined to be restless, but occasional warm rays of sun in the afternoon caused them to sleep soundly. It was noticed that a large portion of to-day's catch was speared either in the breast or back, close to the forward flippers, indicating that the seals slept soundly, with their bodies largely exposed, which gave the hunters an opportunity to strike the most vital part. Aside from the favorable condition of the weather, the absence of other vessels from the ground materially aided in increasing the day's catch. In only 12 stomachs was food found which could be identified, the others being empty. In the full stomachs were observed squid, j)ollock, and one piece of salmon. Fifty of the 62 males were 4 to 5 years old, the other 12 about 3 years old. Ninety-two of the females were adults, and 2 under 3 years of age. All through the night of the 26th and the morning of the 27th the weather was calm, or nearly so. At daybreak a light fog hung over the water; in the middle of the day it cleared away. On the strength of yesterday's success the hunters went out at an early hour. From the vessel scattering seals were observed all through the day. The water was very much discolored, and whales and porpoises were abundant, but there was a marked scarcity of birds as compared with yesterday. At noon a good observation of the sun was taken, which placed us in latitude 55° 10' north, longitude 170° 47' west. At 4 p. m. the hunters began to return, and at 7.30 o'clock th^ last one had arrived. The catch nearly equaled that of yesterday, amounting to 146 seals, 68 being males and 78 females. It will be seen by this that there are times when the sexes are nearly equally distributed, but as a rule the majority of seals taken at sea are females. Sixty of the 146 seals were opened; food was taken from 6 males and 14 females, consisting of squid, pollock, and a small quantity of fishbones. The stomachs of the females opened contained a greater quantity of food than the males. Thus far, in the examination of stomachs, it had been noticed that those of the males contained much less material than the females. Most of the males caught to-day were very young, 3 and 4 years old; *TH^Wffff* ^WTlfo'M K K«*^v.*^v*!^<%.'W:^^tV-:y'-?:ATr-i^:~.:<. SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 135 the females were much larger. Seventy-four of the latter were in milk; those that were not were from 2 to 3 years old. On the morning of August 28 the weather looked favorable for a repetition of the previous day's work. The hunters were well clear of the vessel at 5.30 o'clock, at which time another vessel and the smoke of a steamer could be seen low on the horizon. In the middle of the day a canoe belonging to the schooner James G. Swan came alongside and reported that vessel as having 860 skins. During the latter part of the day the weather became threatening. The barometer had been falling rapidly since noon, the wind had shifted from southwest to southeast, and no seals had been observed from the vessel. At 6 p. m. the hunters returned, bringing 57 seals. Two of the males were large, the others were all small. As soon as the canoes and boats were hoisted in and secured for the night, a single reef was put in the foresail and a reefed trysail set, and preparations made for stormy weather. At dark the wind began to increase in force, and by midnight it was blowing a moderate gale, which continued until the following noon. Occasional heavy rain squalls passed over, which kept the sea down somewhat. In the evening two sleeping seals were noticed, which was unusual under the circumstances. In the morning of August 30 the wind had again increased to a moderate gale, and since midnight had changed 2 points to the southward. The sea was very rough; weather clear and sunny. At 10 a. m. wore ship and lay to on the starboard under close-reefed sails. Both in the forenoon and afternoon we saw scattering seals. They were seemingly not bound in any particular direction, and most of them were playing. One was observed asleep. We had been in comparatively clear water all day, but late in the afternoon suddenly jogged into discolored water. At 5.30 p. m. the jib was set, and we stood on a southeast by south course, so as to give the 60-mile limit a wide berth, the wind and sea for the past twenty- four hours having carried us toward it. We worked to the south and west all night. In the morning of August 31 the wind and sea had gone down considerably, and one vessel was in sight. At noon we were in latitude 55° IP north; longitude 170° 05' west. We spoke the schooner Enterprise, of Victoria, with 1,387 skins on board. She reported the schooner Libbie, with 1,040 skins, and the Carlotta Cox, with 600. The last-named vessel carried only 6 boats, and white hunters, which speaks well in their favor as seal hunters with spears. Shortly after meridian we passed several sleeping seals, but the condition of the weather prevented the hunters from going out. About two hours later several more were seen, and at 4 p. m. we came across a bunch of " sleepers." At this time the weather showed signs of clearing, and 7 canoes were lowered, but they were out only a short time when the weather again became threatening. Eleven seals was the result of this short trial, 5 being males and 6 females. They were all very small and only one contained food. Four of the females were without milk. Through the day we had been in markedly discolored water, and the other indications were favorable to the presence of a considerable body of seals on this ground, which turned out to be the fact, as proved by the results of the hunting on the following day. The wind had been moderate all through the night, and in the morning of September 1 a light air was moving from the southwest, the sea being smooth. The sky was cloudy and the air cool, but as the day TjSNl^fci!- fiaiJH" *-^.«»^~.^ 136 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. advanced it grew warmer. Whales could be heard blowing through the night, and at daylight a number were seen close by; also immense flocks of birds. At 5.30 a. m. the hunters started under very favorable conditions, the sea being smooth and nothing in the atmosphere indicative of a change. The wind being very light, the vessel remained in one position most of the day. Numerous seals were observed, both awake and asleep. The former were moving only slowly, seldom going over 100 yards, and spending most of the time in finning, rolling, and scratching themselves. In the afternoon we were boarded by the revenue cutter Rush. At 5.30 p. m. the canoes began to return, each one.bringing a good catch, the largest amounting to 25 seals, the smallest to 11. The total catch was 336. This was a phenomenal day's work, affording the greatest number of seals ever taken in Bering Sea in one day, except that the schooner Sapphire in 1894 captured about 400 in the same length of time. There were 120 males and 216 females. The stomaehs of those opened showed a remarkable scarcity of food. The material from 8 males and 10 females was all that was in suitable condition to identify, and consisted chiefly of, squid, although pollock and what looked like cod made up a portion of the food preserved. Taking into consideration the amount of surface life observed from day to day, it has appeared remarkable that so few7 seals should have food in their stomachs. To day both Indian and white hunters reported numerous seals, finning, rolling, and asleep. In the early part of the day they were inclined to be restless, but iu the afternoon the warm sun caused them to sleep soundly, and so plentiful were they that sometimes it was a hard matter to decide which one to spear first. Of course, where seals sleep so near together, those in close proximity to the one speared are liable to.be disturbed, but there were enough others in the near vicinity to keep the hunters busy without paying much attention to the disturbed ones. They were reported as lying about like logs, as far as the eye could reach. The hunters claimed that in all their experience they had never before beheld anything like the sight presented. Small schools of squid, pollock, and other fish were plentiful. One of the white hunters reported seeing several Atka mackerel, and from the description given it is pos- sible he was correct. The day had been a perfect one for sealing, and no other vessels were on the ground. During the night we jogged to the southwest 14 miles. In the morning of September 2 the hunters were out at an early hour, weather being clear and pleasant, the sea smooth, and the wind light from northeast by north. At 10 a. m. two of the canoes returned, the hunters claiming that the air was too raw and chilly for seals to sleep well, there being 2 degrees difference between the air and water. Only a few scattering seals had been seen, and they were rolling and finning. It was uot long before all the canoes returned, bringing altogether 10 seals—6 males and 4 females. Three of the latter were nursing females. Their stomachs were comparatively empty, what little food they contained being of the same character as on the previous day, namely, squid. At 4 p. m. an observation of the sun placed us in latitude 55° 22/ north, longitude 170° 36' west. At this time we saw several patches of sea weed in which seals were finning and playing. We spoke the schooner Enterprise and learned that she had captured 236 seals on the 1st, about 12 miles south of our position. We were also informed that a number of other vessels had been very successful, which would indicate that the seals covered a considerable area on that day and were not wholly confined to our immediate vicinity. \\W SSBBggg SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 137 September 3 was cold and cloudy, the wind being northeast and fresh, the sea short and choppy. A few "mooching" and finning seals were occasionally seen; no travelers were observed. At 5 p. m. we spoke the schooner Ainoko\\ which had taken 750 skins. For the past week she had been cruising in the vicinity of Akutan Pass, but had not found seals abundant enough to remain on that ground. Last season good catches were made there. She was now bound to the westward in search of a large body of seals which had been reported a few days previous by the revenue cutter Grant. We continued to jog to the northward for about 20 miles and then hove to. All the afternoon scattering seals had been observed, most of them in our wake. They would follow the vessel for a half hour at a time, seemingly through curiosity. At times during the night seals could be heard playing around us. In the morning several bunches were noticed close by, a few playing, but the majority going in a northwesterly direction. In the early part of the day the barometer began to fall, the weather became threatening, with the wind east and sea rough. At 10 a. m. wore ship and jogged to the southeast under snug canvas, wind a moderate gale from the east-northeast. From daylight until dark more seal life had been observed from the vessel than at any previous time since entering Bering Sea. Our attention was especially attracted to the character of the water, which had the appearance of being filled with minute surface life. Birds were numerous, and an occasional whale was in sight. During the next three days stormy weather prevailed, the wind being east-northeast and blowing from a moderate to a strong gale; the sea was heavy most of the time. On the morning of the 7th the wind had subsided to a moderate breeze. During this long spell of boisterous weather seals were frequently observed, some playing and others traveling in a southwesterly direction. Birds were plentiful most of the time. At noon on the 7th we were in latitude 56° 22' north, longitude 171° 50' west, and it was quite evident that we had encountered a strong northwesterly current. At 8 p. m. wore ship and stood to the southeast so as to give the GO mile zone a wide berth. A vessel cruising near this line without getting an observation for several days, and having no means of knowing the direction of the current, is very apt to be from 30 to 40 miles out in her reckoning. At 6 a. m. on September 8 the hunters were making preparations to lower, the sea being smooth and a light breeze blowing from the eastward; the weather was cloudy. At 10 a. m. the hunt was interrupted by a heavy, damp fog. Ten seals had been obtained—7 males and 3 females. Five of the former were between 4 and 5 years old; the other 2 were very small, about 1 year old; the females were all nursing cows. The stomachs of these seals were nearly all empty. Only a few of the hunters saw seals, and according to appearances there were but few in this locality. Two of the boats rowed and sajjed fully 15 miles each without encountering a single one. Fish and other surface life were correspondingly scarce. As our position—latitude 56° 35' north, longitude 172° 20' west—placed us very near the bank, the scarcity of seals was surprising. While a number of the canoes were waiting alongside to be hoisted on board a small seal came up in our wake, apparently attracted by the blasts of the fog horn and remaining unconscious of danger until one of the canoes had closely approached it and the spear had been poised for striking. It was captured. At 3 p. m. we made all sail and stood to the southeast. Shortly after I 138 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. this the fog lifted for a short time and an observation of the sun was taken, placing us in latitude 56° 32' north, longitude 172° 45' west. The next morning we had made 50 miles in a southeast direction; the weather was pleasant, the sea smooth, and the sky periodically clear. A few seals were noticed early in the day. At 9 a. m. the presence of 3 seals, supposed to be sleeping, prompted two hunters to launch, their canoes, but they dived just as the spears were being V >wn. The appearance of seals, however, acted as an incentive for Wfc .e canoes to go out, but they soon returned in consequence of fog. Nine seals, only were obtained, 4 being males and 5 females. Although fish were reported jumping, nothing was found in the stomachs of these Specimens. In the night we had worked to the east-southeast, and in the morning we were in latitude 55° 50' north, longitude 171° 49' west. At 5 a. m. a sleeping seal was speared close to the vessel; its stomach was well filled with food, consisting apparently of Alaskan pollock. At this hour the weather was very foggy and the Indians were not inclined to start. Presently, however, the fog lifted somewhat and several more seals were seen. A signal gun could now be heard, indicating that a sealing vessel was near and that her boats were out. This circumstance stim-< ulated the hunters to action, and in a short time the canoes were hoisted out. As the fog cleared birds, whales, and porpoises could be seen to the northwest, and also flocks of petrel on the water close by. The season being now well advanced, the hunters were expected to take advantage of every opportunity, and, moreover, on the strength of their previous good success, they were quite eager to add a few more skins to the number on board. The weather could no longer be trusted for any length of time, and that proved to be the case on this day. At 11 a. m. the fog became so dense that the captain was as anxious to get the hunters back as they were to return. Seventeen seals composed the catch, 5 being males and 12 females. Eleven of the females were nursing cows, and the males were all young. One canoe obtained 5 of the number, all of which were asleep and separated just far enough so the noise made in capturing one did not disturb the others. A consid> erable number of "rollers" and " finners" was noticed, but the damp fog seemed to prevent them from sleeping. Had the day been warm it is probable that a good catch would have been secured. In proportion to the number of seals taken, a greater amount of food was found in their stomachs than on any previous occasion. Squidl and pollock mixed with crustaceans composed the greater part of the material identified.- Squid beaks were very conspicuous in every stomach in which food was found. As in previous cases the stomachs of the females were much better filled than those of the males. The second mate while out hunting had boarded the schooner Triumph, whose gun had been heard earlier in the day. She reported having 1,800 skins. The day before she took 20 skins 30 miles to the eastward of our present position. For the past few days she had been gradually working to the westward, but only a few scattered seals had been noticed. To-day her hunters brought in 42 skins. Captain Cox expressed the opinion that if good weather should prevail for a few days encouraging results would follow, as there was every indication that seals were plentiful on this ground. The elements were against us, however, and for the next four days the weather was rough and boisterous. On September 11 the wind blew a very fresh breeze, varying in direction from south by east to southwest, accompanied by a rough sea. No seals were seen, but many birds were about. During the MM!&B!mi!BaffiaMaM SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 139 night of the 11th and the morning of the 12th the wind increased in force and hauled to the westward. The sky was filled with heavy clouds, the air was raw and chilly. Occasionally we wore ship to hold our position. Scattering petrels and other sea birds were frequently seen, but only one seal was sighted during the day. At sundown the barometer began to rise. In the evening the sky cleared and the stars came out, but the sea continued heavy and was accompanied by a flying scud. On September 13 the wind varied in force from a light to a stiff breeze, with changeable weather, lain, mist, fog, and rough sea, ocea-' sionally clearing. Birds were plentiful, one of which was seen to dive close to the vessel and bring up a fish about 10 inches long. In the afternoon 3 seals were observed sleeping side by side, the vessel almost running over them before they awoke. They must have been much exhausted from loss of sleep in the recent gale. In the morning of September 14 the wind had again increased to a moderate gate. The weather was f< ggy and misty at times, with a heavy, rough, and tumbling sea. Two seals were observed in the forenoon. Near noon we ran into an area of discolored water, in latitude 55° 20* north, longitude 171° 25' west, in which were a number of seals. Notwithstanding the very rough condition of the sea and the moderate1 gale prevailing, several of them were asleep. Their bodies were but little exposed, and it was only when we were quite near them that they could be made out. The gale finally broke, and in the morning of September 15 only a light, variable air was moving. The sea had also} gradually gone down with the wind. At 7.30 a. m. several seals were observed and the canoes were lowered. Two sleepers were captured a short distance from the vessel. At 11a m., however, a heavy fog and mist settled down, accompanied by a cold wind from the northwest, which had the effect of bringing back the hunters, all of whom were on board at 1.30 o'clock, having captured 24 seals, 16 males and 8 females. Pieces of squid were found in the stomachs of some of them. Fourteen of the males were very small, and 2 between 4 and 5 years old. The females were larger, 5 being with milk. The hunters reported seeing a large number of seals rolling and finning. Numerous birds and a great many whales were in sight all day. At noon we were in latitude 55° 10' north, longitude 170° 06' west, which was not far from the position where we had taken 157 seals on August 26 and 146 on August 27. The color of the water varied but little on! these dates, the strips of discoloration also running in the same general direction. It would appear as though these bands of discolored water were governed chiefly by the currents, being but little affected by the wind. Late in the day the fog gave way to occasional rain squalls. Birds were exceedingly abundant, and we frequently sighted scattered seals, the most of which were playing. In the evening several hail squalls passed over, after which the sky cleared. Preparations were made to lower the canoes on the following morning, but the work was interrupted by the sudden breezing up of the wind from the westward. In the afternoon the clear weather suddenly changed to mist and rain, with an occasional squall. Only 2 seals were seen, 1 asleep and the other playing. A canoe was lowered for the "sleeper," but it was lost sight of in the choppy sea. Whales and birds were plentiful all day, and in some places immense flocks of petrel were sitting on the water. They were evidently feeding on small marine organisms, for as soon as we had jogged past they would settle down in the same spot from where they had been frightened. Early in the evening a sealing vessel passed to windward with her 140 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. flag set, indicating that she was homeward bound. The sight of this vessel put the Indians in high glee, for the season was now getting late and they were anxious to go home. On September 17 the weather was a repetition of that of the previous day. In the early part of the day we saw 9 seals circling around in various directions and occasionally rolling and finning. Observing this number of seals from the vessel with a choppy sea running was a good indication that under better conditions they would be found plentiful. At noon the weather showed signs of moderating, but the Indians could not be induced to venture out on account of a few squally looking clouds low on the horizon. At 2 p. m. two white hunters started out, but after a two hours' hunt they returned empty-handed. Only 4 seals had been seen, 3 finning and 1 asleep. At the time the boat left the vessel the water was comparatively clear, but about 3 miles to the northwest it came into very much discolored water, in which birds were plentiful and a few fish were seen jumping. Early in the following morning, September 18, the canoes were lowered, the wind being light from the southeast and the sea smooth. The barometer indicated no change, but in a short time the wind began to increase. No seals were observed either by the small boats or from the vessel during the day. On September 19 the weather was similar to that of the previous day. Four seals were seen, 2 asleep, the others traveling to the north-northeast. The former did not awake until the swash of the water from our bow struck them. In the evening we headed for Unimak Pass. As the season was now late it was thought inadvisable to remain longer in the sea. The condition for the last ten days had convinced the captain that little, if any, more sealing weather could be expected. The next morning we sighted the schooner San Jose, which had made a catch of 600 skins. Her captain came on board and reported that until recently he had been hunting northwest of the Pribilof Islands. In that region seals were abundant, but the weather had been too stormy to operate. On September 13, in latitude 58° 30' north, longitude 172° 30' west, several hundred seals had been observed, but the sea was too rough for lowering the boats. In the latter part of August the San Jose had hunted near Unimak Pass, but few seals were found there. At 10 a. m., the wind being light, 8 of the canoes were put over, but at 2 p.m. a dense fog settled down. Ten seals were secured, 4 males and 6 females. They were all small, and their stomachs were empty. On this ground birds were plentiful and one orca was observed. At 2.45 p. m. we continued on our course, and at 6 p. m. Cape Cheerful bore abeam about 15 miles. The next day we were off the northern entrance of Unimak Pass, four other sealers being in sight. In the evening we cleared the southern entrance of the Pass and shaped a course for Cape Flattery. On the morning of October 8 we anchored off Ucleuet, an Indian village situated on the north side of Barclay Sound, Vancouver Island, where most of our Indians belonged. We reached Victoria on October 8, having been twenty days on the passage home. OBSERVING SEALS. In sealing weather hunters do not wait until seals have been seen from the vessel before lowering the boats. They start out as early as possible and search for them, as otherwise the catch of the entire fleet would be small. Very often when no seals are observed from the vessel's deck the boats will be among bunches of them, only a mile or two away, and, on the other hand, it sometimes happens that when scattered seals are SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 141 noticed from the deck the boats may be cruising over barren ground. As a rule, however, the number observed from the vessel is small as compared with the number sighted from the boats. A vessel while jogging will naturally frighten a great many which lie in her path; the flapping of the canvas and the creaking and slatting of the booms arouse the sleepers long before they can be seen, and give them ample time to escape. In the early days of pelagic sealing the boats used to be stationed at different distances and in different directions from the vessel, and would drift, waiting for seals to come near. This method, however, proving unremunerative, it was given up, and the hunters began to cruise, which custom they have continued to follow ever since. MANNER OF COUNTING THE SEXES. Considerable controversy has arisen from the accounts rendered by sealing captains regarding the proportion of male and female seals taken in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea. Previous to the time when sealing vessels were required to enter the number of each sex taken in their official logs little thought was given to this question, and it was always claimed that the two sexes occurred in about equal numbers. All sealers knew which sex predominated, but clung to their original story, and there was no one who could controvert their assertions, although there was every reason to doubt them. An order from the United States Treasury Department requiring the catch of all American sealers to be examined on their arrival in port was the means of throwing considerable light on the subject, and the information gained from this source fully established the fact of the great preponderance of females. It has generally been supposed by most sealers, and the view is still entertained by many, that if it were known that a greater number of females than males were taken it would greatly affect and possibly restrict their privileges when the time came for a readjustment of pelagic regulations. The fact has generally been lost sight of that the condition of the rookeries at the end of five years will have the most weight in deciding that matter. That pelagic sealers should pay little attention to the sexes of the seals taken was but natural, as they had no object in determining which sex predominated, the thought uppermost in their minds being to capture as many seals as possible. No check is placed upon the official logs of the Canadian sealers by the custom-house officials at Victoria, who accept such records as authentic. If the skins landed at Victoria were subjected to the same rigid examination as those landed in United States ports, little or no difference would be found in the proportion of each sex represented in the catch by the vessels of the two countries. It seems strange that on several occasions when American and Canadian sealers have hunted on the same ground and in close proximity to each other, the catch of the former has always been composed largely of females and the latter of males. There are days when more males than females are taken, but such times are not frequent. It is only fair, however, to state that a number of both American and Canadian sealing captains have admitted the truth to the writer, and all United States hunters with whom he has conversed admit that the majority of seals captured off Japan and around the Commander Islands are females. During the season of 1894 the schooner Louis Olsen kept an account of the seals taken off the coast of Japan, and it was found that out of 1,600 two-thirds were females. In 1895 the schooner Brenda obtained 142 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 896 seals on the same coast, fully two-thirds of which were also females, according to the statement of one of her hunters. In nearly every instance where the writer has spoken with hunters on this subject they have admitted that in all waters where the northern seal herd is found, with one exception, females largely predominate. This exception is the Fairweather ground, where, a few years previous to the beginning o| the close season now in force, most of the pelagic sealing was carried on during the month of May. On this ground, as recorded by the writer in a previous report, is found a great number of large males., and according to the statemeut of all sealers and of others it is now quite well established that large breeding males frequent this ground in greater numbers than any other known region. It may be well to illustrate briefly a few of the conditions under which the record of seals is kept. When seals are brought on board in small numbers it is very easy to identify the sex, but when they arrive in large quantities, a hundred or more, it requires considerable time to examine each one, and sealers have, to them, more important duties to attend to. It often happens that the hunters are forced to return on account of bad weather or an approaching storm, at which times the safety of the canoes and vessel is of more consequence than the determination of the character of the catch. When the boats and canoes are being hoisted in, the officers and men are stationed at either side of the vessel to do this work, as well as to keep the records, and, as is to be expected, in the bustle and excitement a very correct account of the sexes is not given. In many cases the seals are not examined at all. By the time the last canoe is lashed on board the weather is rough and stormy and the hunters are anxious to go below; and if it be dark the seals will be left until morning for skinning. No further examination is made, and, right or wrong, the first account rendered is accepted. The fact of the matter is, that in only a few cases is the sex correctly recorded. Inaccuracies in this respect also result when the seals are skinned in the boats. Upon arrival at the vessel the skins are at once thrown into the hold without examination, and nobody knows or cares whether they are male or female. Although United States revenue cutters have the privilege of boarding vessels and overhauling the catch made in Bering Sea, the conditions under which this work is carried on, however zealous the officers may be,render it difficult for the sexes to be separated, and they return to their ship little wiser than when they came. CONDITIONS OF THE FEMALE SEALS TAKEN BY THE DORA SIEWERD. Of the 982 female seals secured by this vessel, 882 were opened and examined by the writer. Of this number 839 were found to be adults, and 66S were clearly in milk. Many of the remaining 171 may also have been nursing females, which at the time of their capture had not obtained sufficient nourishment to cause their milk glands to fill. SEALS MADE SHY BY HUNTING. Inquiry was made of several captains and hunters as to whether seals were as easy to capture this year as last in Bering Sea. They all give it as their judgment that seals were more difficult to approachth is season than in 1894. Captain Cox, of the schooner Sapphire, said he aSg^Vft^teHiiiwttliyitfiifi SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 143 had noticed a marked difference in that respect, and attributed it to the hunting that had been carried on. In many cases they appeared to be unusually shy when there was no apparent cause for it. FOOD OF SEALS. The material which has been found in the stomachs of seals taken in different parts of Bering Sea indicates that only a small percentage is composed of fish which inhabit deep water. It is only reasonable to suppose, however, that when seals are in shallow water they feed both on bottom fish and on those swimming near the surface. A not uncomr mon component of their food is the red rockfish, which occurs both in deep and shallow water and possibly also near the surface at times, which would account for its being found in the stomachs of seals captured where the water is 100 fathoms or more deep. On August 22,1895, in latitude 55° 04' north, longitude 168° 35' west, the head of a macrurus was found in the stomach of a male seal. This group of fishes inhabits considerable depths and much speculation arose as to how it had been obtained by the seal. It was subsequently learned, however, that the Albatross had been dredging in deep water near our position from the 18th to the 22d, and during that time there had been thrown overboard many rejected specimens, among which were a number of macruri, which would be apt to float for some time at or near the surface if not molested. It has been claimed that seals will not eat dead fish, but this is a mistake, for the writer has seen them devour salmon that had been dead several days. Surface fishes, and especially squid, seem to be the natural food of the seal. In the stomachs that have been examined a variety of material was found, such as pieces of Alaskan pollock, salmon, and other fishes, but it has also been observed that in localities where squid are plentiful very little other food may be looked for. I am informed by hunters that on the coast of Japan and off the Commander Islands squid occur in great abundance, and that it is not an uncommon sight to see a half dozen or more seals together feeding on the tentacles of octopus floating at the surface. Sealers usually find squid plentiful off the island of Kadiak, and in that locality they have often been found in large quantities in the stomachs of the seals. WHITE HUNTERS AT A DISADVANTAGE. The white hunters on the Dora Siewerd did not have the same opportunity of getting seals as the Indians for several reasons, one of which was that, as a rule, they were the last to leave the vessel in the morning and the first to return at night. They were expected to hoist out all the canoes, and in the evening to hoist them in again, stow them away and lash them. Indians are useless in this kind of work, and upon their arrival alongside, their duties have ended, as the skinning of the seals devolves upon the steersmen. The Indians, therefore, had every advantage iu respect to hunting. On leaving a vessel the boats nearly always form a line so that each will have a clear space to windward. When all the boats start out together they are all on an equal footing; but when one or two boats, as was the case with our white hunters, are obliged to follow in the rear of others^ their chance of seeing many seals is greatly lessened, for they are hunting in water already passed over, but the situation improves as the ^*^»-i*-^:;st*'^i*i,fa-v it'***v.. 71) in. m 44 30.20 6p.m........ 44 . 8 p, m 30.10 30.10 5 8 a.m . ,...--- 45 4JS 46 45 45 47 44 46 46 46 46 46 43 43 44 45 44 45 45 45 46 46 46 45 44 44 44 44 44 46 46 46 47 47 47 47 W.byS. S. by B. SSE. S.byE. S. SE. SE. S. by E. S. S. bvW. SW. SSW. SW. SW. SW. WSW. w. w. SW. by W. SW. by W. 8W. WSW. WSW. W.byS. W. by N. W. by N. W. by N. W. bv N. W. by N. W.byS. W. SW. by W. SW. by W. SW. by W. 3 4 4 5 4 8 8 7 7 8 7 6 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 3 8 4 5 4 8 3 8 3 8 2 2 in n. m 12m 45 4 p. m 46 finm ±K 30.10 30.08 30.00 29.76 55 01 168 07 6 8 a. in 10 a. m 12 m 45 45 45 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 45 46 46 45 45 44 47 47 48 47 45 45 43 45 45 44 45 45 45 29.65 29.64 29.50 •29.60 29.71 54 45 167 50 4 p. m 8 p. m 8 a m 7 12 m 54 56 167 27 2 p m 4 p. m 29.74 29.74 29.78 8 p. m ■ 8 a m 8 10 a.in 12 m 29.78 29.80 55 01 167 80 4 p m 6 p m 8 p in 29.82 29 96 o 8 a m 12m 29.98 54 42 167 45 2 p. in. 4 p m 29.98 80.00 8 n in 10 7 a in 8 a in 80.20 • 10 a. m 12 m 80.20 54 58 167 31 2 p, xn 80.20 6 p in 80.20 80.12 i 11 46 46 47 47 46 45 46 47 47 47 47 46 46 46 47 47 46 46 46 47 47 46 46 46 Var. WNW. Var. Var. N. NE. WNW. W.by N. W. W.by N W.by N. W. by N. 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 8 8 8 2 8 10a.m 12m 80.10 55 00 167 45 2 n to 80.00 29.98 80.00 12 12 m 80.00 55 06 167 50 2 p m 80.12 6 p. in 30.20 J a The temperature of the water was taken 5 feet below the surface. SEAL LIFE ON THE PKIBILOF ISLANDS. 147 Record of physical observations made during the cruise of the sealing schooner Dora Siewerd in Bering Sea, August and September, 1895, by A. B. Alexander—Continued. Date. Time of day. 1895. Aug. 13 15 16 17 18 23 8 a. m 2 p.m.. 8 a. m .. 10 a. m. 12 m ... 2 p.m.. 4 p.m.. 8 p.m.. 8 a. m .. 10 a. m . 12 m... 2 p.m.. 4 p.m.. 6 p.m.. 8 p.m.. 8 a.m.. 12 m... 2 p.m.. 4 p.m.. 8 p.m.. 8 a. m .. 10 a. m. 12m ... 2 p. m.. 4p.m., 8 p.m.. 8 a. m.. 10 a. m, 12 m ... 2 p.m.. 4 p.m.. 6 p.m.. 8 p.m.. 8a.m.. 10 a. m. 12m... 2 p. m.. 4 p. m.. 6 p.m.. 8 p.m.. 8 a. m . 10 a.m. 12 m... 2 p.m.. Temperature. Air. Surface water, a Wind. Direction. SW.hy W. WSW. WSW. WSW. SW. WSW. WSW. WSW. w. Var. Var. Var. SE. ESE. "sse." SSE. SSE. SSE. *ESE." Calm. SE. SE. Calm. SSE. SE. by S. SE. bv S- SSE. S. by W. ssw. SW. by S. SW.by W." SW. by W. SW. SW. SW. SW. SW. by S. W. W. AVNW. WNW. AVNW. WNW. NW. by W. WNW. WNW. WNW. WNW. WNW. WNW. W. by N. NW. by W. WSW. WSW. WSW. WSW. "*s"bYW\\" SSW. ssw. S. by W. SSW. ssw. S. by W. SW. NNE. N. N. N. NNE. Force. Barometer reading. Noon position. Latitude. 30.20 30.20 30.28 30.30 30.30 j 30.30 I. 30.32 |. 30.32 '36.66 30.28 30. 00 30.00 29.96 29.96 29.98 '36.66 29.98 29. 94 29.78 29." 72" 29*65 29.65 29.72 29.70 I. 29.62 . '29.68 1 29." 78*! 29.78 . 29.90 I. j 29." 92*' 29.91 "29.'9i'|. 30.10 1 30.10 30.00 36.66 29*98" "29.*98 30.00 55 03 55 08 Longitude. W. 168 15 167 45 167 40 55 07 55 15 55 21 54 56 55 14 55 29 55 04 55 28 168 10 168 30 1 168 32 168 00 168 15 168 05 168 35 168 10 148 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Record of physical observations made during the cruise of the sealing schooner Dora Siewerd in Bering Sea, August and September, 1895, by A. B. Alexander—Continued. Date. 1895. Aug. 25 26 29 30 31 Sept. 1 28 Time of day 2 p.m.. 4 p.m.. 8 p.m.. 8a. m.. 10 a. m. 12 m .. 2 p.m.. 4 p. m.. 6 p.m.. 8 p. m.. 8 a. m.. 10 a. m. 12 in ... 2 p. in.. 4 p. m.. 6 p.m.. 8p.m.. 8 a.m.. 10 a. m. 12 m ... 2p.m.. 4 p. 6p, 8 p. 8 a. 10 a. m 12 m .. 2 p.m. 4 p. m. 6 p. m. 8 p. m. 8 a. m . 10 a. m 12m .. 2 ]). m. 4 p. m. 8 p.m. 8 a. m . 10 a. in 12m .. 2 p.m. 4 p. 6 p. 8 p. 8 a. 10 a m. m. m. m. m. m. m. m. . m 12 m ... 2 pm.. 4 p.m. 6 p.m.. 8 p.m. 8 a.m.. 10 a. m 12 m .. 2 p. m.. 4 p. m.. 6p.m.. 8 p. in.. 8 a. in.. 10 a. m. 12m ... 2p.m. 4 p. 6 p. 8 p. 8 a. 10 a. m in m. m. in in 2 p.m.. 4p.m.. 6 p.m.. 8p.m.. 8 a.m.. 10 a.m. 12 m ... 2 p. 4 p. m. in Temperature. Air I Surface Air' wafer, a Wind. Barome ter Noon position. 47 47 47 45 45 46 45 46 45 45 46 48 49 46 44 44 46 46 46 46 45 47 47 48 48 48 48 48 48 48 48 48 48 48 48 48 48 48 48 45 46 46 49 45 45 45 47 46 45 45 44 45 45 46 46 45 45 45 45 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 47 47 47 | 47 47 I 47 47 47 I 47 Direction. N. N. . N. N. NW.byN AVNW. WSW. WSW. WSW. I force, reading. Latitude. Longitude. 47 47 48 48 49 49 WNW. SW. W. by S. W. W. bv N. NNE. 48 48 48 48 48 48 W. hy S. SW. hy S. SW. s. hv W. S. by E. SE. Miles. 6 6 ; s 2 2 ! 1 2 2 9, N 1 1 1 O Ad 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 47 47 47 47 47 47 SE. SE. S. by E. S. S.hy W. S. by W. 8 8 8 7 6 6 29.50 29.52 47 47 47 47 47 47 47 47 47 47 47 47 SW. hy S. SW. by S. SW. by S. SW. by S. SW.by SW. bv SW\\ SW. SW. by SW. SW.hv SW. bv W. W. W. 8 8 8 8 8 29.80 29.85 OO 2SO 4 4 4 4 29.90 29.94 30.40 47 47 47 47 47 47 SW. Var. Var. Var. Var. NW. 47 47 47 47 47 47 NE.by NE.by NE.bv NE. NE. NE. 3 4 4 4 4 4 30.60 47 47 47 47 47 47 46 46 47 47 47 47 NE. NE. by E. NE. NE.by E. NE. by E. NE. by E. NE.byE. E. BNB. ENE. ENE. ENE. ENE. ENE. ENE. ENE. ENE. ENE. ENE. o 5 6 6 6 6 7 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 Wi 30.08 ■ • 30.00 55 15 170 58 29.98 29.95 29 92 29.90 55 10 170 47 29.90 29.98 29.82 29.90 55 07 170 45 29.76 29.70 29.40 29.40 55 28 170 15 170 10 30.50 55 11 170 05 30.52 30.60 30.60 30.58 55 29 170 26 30.58 30.60 30.60 170 50 30.58 30.56 30.40 30.40 55 29 170 86 30.40 80.40 30.20 •••••• ■•••• 30.15 55 55 170 50 30.14 30.12 80.00 29.98 55 22 170 15 a The temperature of the water was taken 5 feet below the surface. SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS: 149 Record of physical observations made during the cruise of the sealing schooner Dora Sieiverd in Bering Sea, August and September, 1895, by A. B. Alexander—Continued. Date. Time of day. 1895. Sept. 5 6 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 8 p. m.. 8 a. m.. 10 a. m. 12 in ... 2 p.m.. 4 p. m.. 6 p. in.. 8p.m.. 8 a.m.. 10 a. m. 12 m... 2 p.m.. p.m.. p.m.. p.m.. a. in.. 10 a.m. 12 m... 2 p.m.. 4 6 8 8 10 12 m p.m.. p.m.. p.m.. a.m.. a.m. m.. m.. in.. m.. 8 a. m.. 10 a. m. 12 m... 2 p.m.. p.m.. p.m.. p.m a. m.. 10 a.m. 12 m.. 2 p.m.. p.m.. p.m.. p.m.. 8 a. m. . 10 a. m . 12 m ... 2 p.m.. 4 6 8 m. m. m. 4 p. 6 p. 8 p. 8 a. m... 10 km.. 12m 2 p. m 4 p. m 6 p. m 8 p. m 8 a. m 10 a. m.. 12 m 2 p.m..., 4. p.m... 6 p.m 8 p.m 8 a. m 10 a. m... 12m 2 p.m m.. % m 4 p. 6 p. 8 p.m. 8a.m. 10 a. m 12 m.. 2 p.m.. 4 p. 6 p. m. m. Temperature. Air. Surface water, a 46 47 47 47 47 47 47 47 47 46 46 46 46 48 45 45 44 44 47 47 47 47 47 46 47 47 47 48 47 47 46 47 47 47 47 46 45 46 46 46 45 45 44 46 46 46 46 46 47 47 47 47 46 46 44 45 45 44 43 42 44 46 46 42 42 42 46 46 45 45 45 45 46 46 46 46 45 45 47 47 47 47 47 47 46 47 47 47 47 47 47 47 47 47 47 47 44 44 45 46 46 46 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 46 46 46 46 46 46 Wind. I Barome. i Noon position. ter I Direction. Force, reading. Latitude, j Longitude. ENE. NE. by E. NE.byE. NE. by E. NE. by E. NE. bv E. NE. by E. NE. by E. E. by N. E. by N. E. E. E. E. ft E. by S. E. E. E. E. E. •pi E.by N. E. by N. E. by N. E. by N. SE. SE. SE. ESE. ESE. E E. by S. ESE. SE. by E. SE. by E. S. by E. S. by W. S. by W. I S. s. s. SW. SW. by W. WSW. WSW. WSW. WSW. WSW. W. by S. SW.by W. W. by S. W. W. S W.byS. ssw. ssw. ssw. ssw. SW. hy S. SW.hy S. Var. NW. NW. NW. NNW. NNW. W. w. w. W. hy S. SW. SSW. Miles. 8 9 8 8 8 8 8 8 4 4 4 3 3 6 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 8 8 8 8 8 8 1 3 3 4 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 5 3 3 3 3 4 4 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 8 8 9 9 8 8 8 4 5 4 *> O 2 3 29 96 30.00 29.38 29.35 29.35 29.32 29.40 N. W. 30. 10 56 10 170 45 30. 10 30. 20 30 30. 30. 31 56 22 171 50 30. 32 30. 38 40 30. 30. 40 56 35 172 20 30. 40 30. 40 18 30. 30. 10 55 49 171 54 30. 02 30. 00 90 29. 29. 80 55 50 171 49 29. 60 29. 55 40 29. 55 57 171 B0 29.55 55 44 171 30 29.65 29. 72 29.90 .;> . ** 29.90 55 44 171 51 29. 90 29.98 29.68 ■ " .*■ 29.62 55 20 171 25 29.65 . 29.65 29.60 29.60 55 10 170 06 29.78 29.80 30.00 30.02 55 20 170 32 30.00 ........... flHfiH a The temperature of the water was taken 5 feet below the surface. 150 SEAL LIFE ON THE PEIBILOF ISLANDS. Record of physical observations made during the cruise of the sealing schooner Dora Siewerd in Bering Sea, August and September, 1895, by A. B. Alexander—Continued. Time of day. Temperature. Wind. Barometer reading. Noon position. Date. Air. Surface water, a Direction. Force. Latitude. • Longitude. 1895. Sept. 16 17 8 p.m o o Miles. 29.98 30.40 N. W. 8 a. m 41 42 44 44 44 43 45 45 45 45 45 45 W. W. WN. W. W. W. W. 4 5 3 3 1 10 a. m 12m 2 p.m 4 p. m 6 p. m 30.45 30.50 55 17 170 36 8 n. m 30.58 30.48 18 8 a. m 1 44 10 a. m 1 44 12 m I 45 4 p. m j 45 6p.m | 45 8 p. m 45 45 45 46 46 SE; SE. SE. SE. SE. by S. 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 2 1 2 4 4 30.40 30.32 55 30 169 55 30.25 29.82 19 8 a. m 46 10 a. m ' 47 12m ! 47 2p.m ] 47 4 T). m ! 47 45 46 46 46 46 45 N.E: NE. by N. NE.by N. NE. by N; NNE. N. bv E. N.by E. NE. b"y N. NE.hyN. Var. SE. SE. SE. by S. 29.74 55 28 170 40 29.72 6 p. m 46 8 "n. m 29.70 29.70 20 8 a. m j 45 10 a. m | • 45 12m 1 44 2p.m ! • 43 4 p.m j 43 6 n. m 43 45 45 45 45 45 45 29.70 55 36 167 30 29.70 29.70 a The temperature of the water was taken 5 feet below the surface. Record showing the principal food found in the stomachs of seals taken in Bering Sea by the schooner Dora Siewerd. Date. 1895 Aug. Sept. 1 2 3 4 9 10 11 12 14 15 17 18 19 20 21 22 24 26 27 28 31 1 2 8 9 10 15 20 Number of seals taken. Principal food found in the stomach. 42 45 13 16 20 73 89 15 30 99 85 2 4 111 69 44 21 157 146 57 11 336 10 10 9 17 24 10 Nearly all empty; a few could not be identified. Do. Empty. Do. A piece of squid and fish bones. Pieces of fish and fish hones. Do. Do. Pieces of squid and squid beaks. Alaskan pollock and pieces of fish. Squid, pieces offish, and fish bones. Empty. Do. Squid, squid beaks, fish bones, pollock, and other fish. Squid, pollock, and salmon. Squid, pollock, salmon, and fish bones. Squid, squid beaks, salmon, pollock, fish bones. Squid, pollock, and pieces of salmon. Squid, pollock, and fish hones. Do. Pollock. Mostly squid and what looked like cod. A few pieces of squid. Pollock. Empty. Squid, squid beaks, mingled with Crustacea. Squid. Empty. W&B££bmuaiiiis2jwfimm&mimTi?i*w sjaftasKSjs 00 CC o CO CC < X cc O \\- o co CC UJ z o o X o CO CD z _l < UJ CO U. O CO UJ CL V—WBWWWMW IVIUMJ.UJ^.0* K"" mm KIPS if. I Sill WMmmf. . ^m lib < CO < < z < Q UJ X o < UJ CO Q z < I- z UJ z cc UJ > o o CO UJ < I- co Q UJ > CQ < UJ co O cc Ul CQ Q UJ N UJ CO Z O I- z cc o I cc Ul z O O I o co o z < UJ co z < < Z < o f fWc;'£t?tt&ii<&Ai(;*!*".,"» 152 INDEX TO PART II. Emma and Louisa, schooner, log entries of. Emmett Felitz, schooner, log entries of Enterprise, schooner, log entries of Favorite, schooner, log entries of Fawn, schooner, log entries of Feeding grounds, changing of range, extent of... Females, absence from rookeries Bage 78 88 96 53,65,93 62 .. 21,22 20 19 branding of . .. 38, 111 counting of 28,34,35,100,102 killing by Government 38, 111 loss of 36,38 pregnancy of 41,42,43,44. 45 Firearms, use . _ 23 Fish Commission, investigations of, 1893 3 George W. Prescott, schooner, log entries of 89 Grass, growth on rookeries 11,107,108 Hauling grounds 103,104 Henrietta, schooner, log entries of 70 Henry Dennis, schooner, log entries of 54 Herman, schooner, log entries of 74,75 Hunters, white 143 work of 115 Ida Etta, schooner, log entries of 58,94 Idler, schooner, log entries of 88 Indians, sealing by 21,124,125,127,128,129,132 James G. Swan, schooner, log entries of 84 Jane Grey, schooner, log entries of 60,82 Japan coast, proportion of sexes 122 89 74 91 68 ___ 67 __ 127 70 * 66 18 Jessie, schooner, log entries of J. Eppinger, schooner, log entries of . Kate and Anna, schooner, log entries of. Kate, schooner, log entries of 99 Katherine, schooner, log entries of _. Killer whales Kilmeny, schooner, log entries of Labrador, schooner, log entries of. . London furriers, depositions of Louis Olsen, schooner li log entries of 60,73 cruise of, 1894 113 Japan cruise of 120 Maps, seal distribution _ 17,39 of rookeries 8,10,15,27,30,33,108 Mary Ellen, schooner, log entries of 50,51,52,53,62 Mascot, schooner, log entries of 64,65 Matilda, schooner, log entries of 86 Mattie T. Dyer, schooner, log entries of 77 Maud S., schooner, log entries of . 97 Miller, N. B_ 4,5,9,10,11,13,15,27,33 Minnie, schooner, log entries of. M. M. Morrill, schooner, log entries of 69 91 Modus vivendi ._ _ »**-. 17,40 Northwest coast Olga, whaler, log entries of 85,89 97 Pacific Ocean, sealing in.. 13,17,18 Paris Tribunal Pelagic sealing award of 13,17,21 1894 113 1895 J 27 methods of 21,124 inquiries 11,16,19,38,39,113,123 Japan coast -- 18 Russian coast 29 photographs of 45 Photographic stations.._»_ _ _ 3,10,27,108 marking of _ 4,11,29. Pup seal, albino 18 \\*^***£>:?r**M>rtVS"^**^V«.7?*-'vv^ INDEX TO PART 153 Pasre Pup seals, birth of _ 28 loss of 5,13,14,16,30,36,37,38,99,100,110 nursing of _ _ 14,15,110 swimming of _ M 5 sex of _ 36 starving of 13,14,15,37,110 Puritan, schooner, log entries of 85 Rattler, schooner, log entries of 81,97 Recommendations _ __ _ _ 88 R. Ecrett, schooner,log entries of.. 89 Rookery, Ketavie . 5,6,12,32,35,101 Polavina 5,6,12,31 Little Polavina 5,6,12,31 Upper Zapadnie 6,12,33 Lower Zapadnie _ 6,3$ Reef 4,5,6,12,32,8$ Lagoon _ 6,12,32,35,101 Tolstoi __ ...5,6,12,32,35,101 Sea Lion Rock 5,6 Northeast Point. _ 5,12,31 Zapadnie 4,7,12,33 East 4,6,12,38 Little East , 4,7,12,33 North 4,7,12,38 Starry Arteel .._. - 4,7,12 Lukannon 5,6,12,35 grounds, abandonment of 107,108 Rookeries, area of 102 condition of, 1893 3,5,7 1894. .--. 10,11,13 0,99 97 Q 1895. „--.- breaking apart of -- changes in 30 Commander Islan ds 28 photographs of, 1893 9 1894 15,16,108 1895 27,30,33,108 protection of 7 restoration of 36 Rosie Olsen, schooner, log entries of 60,61 Rose Sparks, schooner, log entries of 60 Russian seal herd 28,29,39,40 San Diego, schooner, log entries of 50 San Jose, schooner, log entries of _ 70 Sapphire,schooner,log entries of 63,93 Saucy Lass, schooner, log entries of _ _ 66 Seaweed, seals among 114,124 Seal catch, position of... 17,39 inspection of 19,40,41,141,142 harems, formation of * 28 herd,protection of. _ 17,39 distribution of _. 17,19,39 life, rate of increase 36,37 Sealing boats, number of 21,124,129 loss of 121,122,125,130 data collected 50 grounds, extent of 39 vessels, examination of 23 number of _ 17,21,39 log entries of 17 Seals, age of 41,42,43,44,45 decrease of 4,7,13,28,29,30,31,39,40,107 diving of _ .. 116 fearlessness of 116,125,126,130 feeding grounds of _. __ 16,22 food of... 22,23,39,41,42,43,44,45,116,128,129,130,132,133,134,138,143,150 finning . _ 117 .«i«4v<<.»t*««u»»-j 154 INDEX TO PART II, Page Seals, habits at sea 8,19,20,21,22,23,113,114,125,130,181 habits on land _ 41 health and vigor of 110 in lakes, keeping of __ 38, 111 proportion of sexes 18,19,39,40,41,141,142,145 restlessness of_ 117, 183, 134 shooting of _ _ 132 skinned in canoes _ 18,41 sleeping of 19, 115,116,125,128,136 tameness of 114 traveling of 114, 128 Seal skins, sex of 18 Shelby, schooner, log entries of.. ^ 71 Sophia Sutherland, schooner, log entries of 80,81 Spear, description of 21 Spears,useof 8,17,18,20,21,114,134 Stanley-Brown, J 3,34,113 Stejneger, Dr. L _ 28 Stella Erland, schooner, log entries of _ 58,84,85 St. Paul Island, observations oh, 1893 8 Teaser, schooner, log entries of 85 Therese, schooner, log entries of 59,82 Townsend, C.H., report of 3,10,27,38,99,100,102,108,113 Triumph, schooner, log entries of. 55,63,92 True, F. W 27,88,99 XJmbrina, schooner, log entries of - 55,61,72 Venture, schooner, log entries of 68 Vera, schooner, log entries of 62,96 Victoria, schooner, log entries of _ 91,92 Walter A. Earle. schooner, log entries of __ 61 Walter L. Rich, schooner, log entries of _ 69,94 Weather, effect on seals 117 Willard Ainsworth, schooner, log entries of 90 Winchester, schooner, log entries of 80 l§: ■ O AGENTS, OFFICERS, AND PERSONS, ACTING UNDER THE AUTHORITT^^^p ~" ll| OF THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY, ' : 7. .. ; : : CONDITION OF SEAL LIFE ON THE ROOKERIES f H OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. AND TO PELAGIC SEALING IN BERING SEA AND THE llji NORTH PACIFIC, OCEAN, \\ ; % ; THE YEARS 1893-1895. I3ST TWO PARTS. ; - : ^;;;''Part II. *.. • - ■*]• ;•=■',' [With maps and illustrations. Results of investigations under the direction of the U. S. Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries.] WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 1896. r Chart A. NortREastTt. 2 Mct,rams only Stallion. ' Thin ;-^v- >■ ■■ >'Y v '.. * --r; -..■■as • " %'-7'. :■' , - - • .J ,:"= \\ V%* • -■.'.■•■I?- . ■■il... ■ . . . rr- . . . £^~ .' . .ifflffiSiHSSc >■'? Massed Breeding Grounds. - Hauling " Date of examination July 2* U. S. Coinmission of Fish and Fisheries NORTHEAST POMT ROOKERY S? Paul Island, Bering Sea. Showing area occupied by Fv,r Seals in 1895 as determined by C. H. Townsend, Assistant. Boato' S8S ft-liiu^. . -4 *-. ■* Contour intervals approximately TO feet/. VivSistarbed/ area< - TtiiocedsvegetatioTV. .XorOuEastPl. ... * .4-"| ^lr d/i&tivrbefdt from tuna to time ~by seats hanjilung, sccunt- or Trnvfor mgra&s. Breeding Grounds. Hauling u Date of examination July 2& Base Map prepared, by Joseph Stanley-Brown. THE NORRIS PETERS CO., PVlQTO-LtTHO., WASHINGTON. 0. C. Chart D CRart C a r - ~ *■ * * %7 "■* *,Y ■ ^ '^.''"^^ * .':.'*>'• U. S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries. KETifi?IE &,IiHKAKNONI10(mEIlY S* Paul Island, Bering Sea. Showing area occupied by Fur Seals in 1895, as determined l>y C. H. Townsend, Assistant. '3L Scale: 5 Z8 ft. - linch.. yittrjics :—HxtaSta. .26 **•«'« ^«yy **•.:* ;„ »..,.^«-:■■:■■■■ Gar.rv *^V'-V«v*. "'111 Contour interval approximately 70'fir. Undisturbed, area, - rrnxtd,-ve^etaMoTV. Area, disturbed, from time, to time, fry seals hauZin/}, scantror uniform, grass. ,r1 Breeding Grounds. Hauling " Date of examination July 16 Lukannon Only 1840 famates o/i Eastern of £t/tra?tJiQ?%,ott dft&lutZ r>ioCoSte,.S2. IKelacvie x(y ZQ70 females on ?iecv/e av Jtttu to Base Map prepared by Brown. S Doc. LJ..7_„54 i Chart E ■m Y:fls yg.i-. B. ^•g&h. •/ Y ^tbur*hy m 0memyyyr::'y'r:::^ . a -a ^;a;a sc^y;,.: ;K ,:aaa ■■*■•■;*■;;-■::; yyyis'a yy ■ : ^yyy.Y" :'Y«Y-f7fe ^lf§;^V^YYY^y: •■'•y:;^-::^--:V.;-:SV;..-.-i--■■■••■ ,-■..■.■■:, A •■/&.:■■•■''.■'■:',■ 'AAA- ■,"'..».■■ *.:.&■ :-■•; ^•^Mf^',,,^WBN :A^:T:,i:77^Y^^ *..*,* ' |E*Y Photo Stout I Pho/oSfouF ZPUulyat- ^mmy^my: ■ ;•;•;■ ■ ,, y; ;>aY; ya' .*., ■ y ■■.*■;■ ,\\ Y-i^sgp''aBsS.:;iV; ■•;■*.■a a;a. ; ,;■., •: iAi#-s YY;-YY:.-it,;:::'- ^Y*Y:v aaaaaaasaa a A ;^ 7Y Mcbssed *;*,*.*. ,*,4** *.Yi),i ■*•;*•.; Sis i &fc-'&..'■ ^ It- -.-J*: -r. . .-' _ .£, -.1, A 4 i ■■A ■ *• i ■-'4;:-.4 .■■* ■.'■a::.:* 77 ?YYY*''-! YtY Y^. 77pY;^;.77 ■*/+ 'Vi ■ ,*******/* ' :• v ;:;^;::.*CA'::{:,A;-:; Krf'';AYYeiv: ■-.-•■ ^v-vV--:t YYaaVaA. ..:-^ .7*4 ^> 1 ■* >.V-.'.■."(.• v '•/« ■ j./ ML-'i. ••i|.:-.'-:;t'.*-:*'.---Ji::. ..- ■■^■•■•'■mtv.;^; - t ■■tstiva ::■:,. Y^i'%7t > a;a^YjY^^-# /P .-■-:« ft ah;" .ft :a a:aaa;asH: a„ S^S®jgiSS«ai&>. *.A* ;,A. ,A,V ,'..;.:;.'...:;;:■■. VsA'. A^A,;-„. i:'^* i*t■••-.■'•.■."•'■■.•■;■.-..- ■>. . Ar/i .■■•: -.'.■ r1 •:: ij «"-i, -i. *. *■ *;•:-:.: ■'.'•*.• •■;'-A-'.-;. wr
Other Copies: http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/9480373"@en ; edm:hasType "Legislative proceedings"@en ; dcterms:identifier "SH361 .U5 1896"@en, "I-1245-V02"@en ; edm:isShownAt "10.14288/1.0222554"@en ; dcterms:language "English"@en ; edm:provider "Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library"@en ; dcterms:publisher "Washington : Government Printing Office"@en ; dcterms:rights "Images provided for research and reference use only. For permission to publish, copy, or otherwise distribute these images please contact digital.initiatives@ubc.ca."@en ; dcterms:source "Original Format: University of British Columbia. Library. Woodward Library. SH361 .U5 1896"@en ; dcterms:subject "Sealing--Alaska"@en, "Seals (Animals)--Alaska"@en, "Fishery law and legislation--Alaska"@en, "Fishery law and legislation"@en, "Sealing"@en, "Seals (Animals)"@en ; dcterms:title "Reports of agents, officers, and persons, acting under the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury, in relation to the condition of seal life on the rookeries of the Pribilof Islands, and to pelagic sealing in Bering Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, in the years 1893-1895. In two parts. Part II"@en ; dcterms:type "Text"@en .