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not seem to extend so far toward the shallow creek. (See Elliott, p. 58.) On the whole, I imagine that this rookery has not decreased much, if any, in size recently, but it has apparently shifted somewhat. Bulls, cows, and pups cover the steep hillside and along the shore, except, perhaps, 200 feet at the north end, where there is a large bunch of bachelors; at the crest of the hill was a band of some 150 bachelors. The families here also have begun to lose their integrity, the bulls no longer watched their harems carefully, and the cows and pups wander about at will.

Little East rookery, July 29, p. m.

The west end of this rookery occupies a narrow strip at the base of a basalt cliff about 30 feet high. On this part I saw but one old bull, but counted at least 30 cows and 60 pups, about 45 of the latter were lying upon the flat surface of a very large detached mass of basalt about 10 feet high. To the right of this place the strip widens out to about 100 feet and the biuff becomes a gentle but rocky slope. This strip is 500 to 600 feet long and the part occupied by seals will average less than 50 feet wide. This is pretty thickly covered with cows and pups, except a narrow strip nearly 20 feet wide running along through the middle, upon which there were but few seals and these mostly pups. Bulls were rather scarce here, as shown by the fact that from the bluff at the west end I could count but 21. I do not think there were over 25 or 30 upon this rookery. At this rookery I have seen for the first time the bulls enter the water. The number of cows in sight from the same point was about 400, while the number of pups was very much greater, probably as many as 1,000.

I visited this rookery again on the afternoon of July 30, and made further observations.

The large basalt rock upon which I counted 45 pups yesterday has 70 pups and one cow upon it to-day. This is the position which yesterday showed but one bull, 30 cows, and 90 pups. This would show that the pups are wandering about a good deal, and that there were seen here a good many pups and probably several cows that did not belong to the one bull found here.

B. W. EVERMANN.

I certify that the document hereto annexed, which was transmitted to the Secretary of State on September 28, 1892, is a true copy of certain notes on the fur-seal rookeries of the Pribilof Islands on file in this bureau. Professor B. W. Evermann, who prepared the same, is an expert naturalist in the employ of the United States Fish Commission, and he accompanied the Fish Commission steamer Albatross in that capacity during her cruises in the year 1892.

MARSHALL MCDONALD, U. S. Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries. WASHINGTON, D. C., December 16th, 1892.

12364 18

EXTRACTS FROM VARIOUS PUBLICATIONS.

EXTRACT FROM THE REPORT OF CAPT. CHARLES BRYANT TO THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY.'

FAIRHAVEN, MASS., November 30, 1869.

SIR: Having returned from Alaska, where I was ordered as special agent of the Treasury Department in September, 1868, to examine into the resources of the territory and the character and habits of its various tribes, I have the honor to submit the following report:

On account of the great diversity in the physical features of the territory, the widely varying nature of the products of the different sections, and the very marked difference in the character and habits of the various tribes, I have deemed it necessary to describe each portion of the country in detail in order that a proper idea of the whole territory may be gained; and, as my attention was more particularly called to the interests of the fur-seal trade in Behring Sea, I will begin with the islands of St. Paul and St. George. [Here follows a geographical description of the same.]

THE FUR-SEAL.

The seals resort to the Pribilov Islands, during the summer months, apparently for the sole purpose of reproducing their species. To this end each age or class contributes its share of labor or care, remaining on shore or in the water, as may be necessary. In order to fully understand the duties of the various classes, a description of the animal seems to be necessary at this point.

The male seal attains its full growth at the age of six years, when it measures from seven to eight feet in length and from six to seven in circumference. Its color is a dark brown with a gray over-hair on the neck and shoulders, and its weight is from six to twelve hundred pounds. These alone occupy the rookeries with the females.

A full-grown female measures from four to five feet in length and three feet in circumference and weighs from one to three hundred pounds. It differs in shape somewhat from the male in having a shorter neck and greater fullness of body in the posterior parts. Its color when it first leaves the water is a dark "steel-mixed" on the back and lighter about the breast and sides. After being on shore a few days its color gradually changes to a dark brown on the back and assumes an orange hue on the breast and throat, and is, therefore, easily distinguished from the male. The female attains its full size and brings forth young about the third or fourth year. The yearling seals weigh from forty to sixty pounds, and are of a dark-brown color, with a lighter shade about the throat. The intermediate ages from one to

1 Senate Ex. Docs. Nos. 1 to 39, 1869-'70.

six are readily distinguished by their difference in size and form. The reproductive organs of the male are developed in the fourth year of its age, but it has not yet acquired sufficient strength to maintain its place in the breeding rookeries, which are occupied exclusively by the old males and females with their pups. These rookeries are located on the belt of loose rock between the high-water mark and the base of the cliffs, and vary in width from five to forty rods. The stretches of sand beach between the rookeries are occupied by the young seals as temporary resting-places or by the sick and wounded as neutral ground, on which they may remain undisturbed. The old males return each year to the same rock as long as they are able to maintain their position. It is vouched for by the natives that one seal came for seventeen successive seasons to the same point.

The male seals under six years of age are not allowed on the breeding rookeries and they are generally found in the water swimming along the shore during the day and at night on the uplands above the rookeries, where they rest scattered about like a flock of sheep. Where a long, continuous shore line is occupied by the rookeries narrow passages are left at convenient intervals, through which the young seals may pass unmolested to and from the uplands. At times a line of seals may be seen for hours passing in single file through these open spaces. If at any time, from sudden fright, they attempt to cross the rookeries at any other point a general engagement ensues, resulting in the killing and wounding of large numbers, and if the females with their pups are on the rookeries many of the latter are crushed by being trampled upon. Constant care is necessary, therefore, on the part of the officer in charge or of the native chiefs to prevent any unusual demonstration to alarm the rookeries.

The special duty of the old males, or wigs, as they are commonly called, is to receive the females on their arrival and to watch over and protect their young until large enough to be left to the care of their mothers and the younger males or bachelors, as the latter are termed. From the first to the middle of April, when the snow has melted from the shore and the drift-ice from the north ceased running, a few old male seals make their appearance in the water around the islands and, after two or three days' reconnoissance, venture on shore and examine the rookeries, carefully smelling them. If everything is satisfactory thus far, after a day or two a few climb the slopes and lie with their heads erect, listening. At this time, if the wind blows in the direction of the rookeries, all fires are extinguished and all unnecessary noises suppressed. These scouts soon depart, and after a few days return with large numbers of the male seals of all ages. The rookeries are taken possession of by the old males, who drive the younger ones into the water or to the uplands inside the rookeries. In locating for the season, the old males each reserve about one square rod of ground for the convenience of their future families and that they may have sufficient room in which to execute their awkward movements in defending themselves against the attacks of their neighbors. Male seals continue to arrive daily for some time, the greater part of whom are old wigs, who fight their way to their old places or prepare to defend some newly selected ground against any former occupant that may claim it. They acknowledge no right save might, so that the quarrel is incessant day and night, and the continual growling sounds like the approach of a distant railroad train.

About the middle of June the males have all arrived and the ground is fully occupied by them. Soon after this the females begin to come,

in small numbers at first, increasing as the season grows later, until the middle of July, when the rookeries are full and many of the reservations of the old males overcrowded with their respective families. When the females first arrive many of them appear desirous of returning to some particular male, and frequently climb the rocks overlooking the rookeries and utter a peculiar cry as if endeavoring to attract the attention of some acquaintance. Changing their place at intervals this cry is often repeated until some bachelor perceives her and she is driven to the rookeries and quickly appropriated. It seems to be the sole duty of the bachelors at this season to compel the females to take their places in the rookeries and often against their will. When the female reaches the shore the nearest male meets and coaxes her with a peculiar clucking noise until he gets between her and the water, when his tone changes and, with a growl, he drives her to a place in his family.

This continues until the lower row begins to get full, when those higher up from the shore, watching their opportunity when their neighbor is off his guard, rob his family to augment their own. This they do by taking the female in their mouths and carrying her to their own ground. Those still higher up pursue the same plan until all the space is occupied. Frequently a struggle ensues between two males for the same female, both seizing her at once and either pulling her asunder or terribly lacerating her. After the ground has been covered the old male devotes his time to keeping order in his family and driving away intruders, Within two or three days after their arrival the females give birth to one pup each, which is of a very dark brown color and weighs from six to twelve pounds. The mother manifests a strong attachment for her young and distinguishes its cry, which resembles the bleating of a lamb, among thousands. Soon after the birth of the pup the female receives the male on the rocks, but it is doubtful whether this connection is often perfect. She is subsequently allowed to go into the water, where she is followed by the young males, by whom the connection is repeated. Upon her return to the rookeries she is from this time allowed greater freedom and goes at will from one point to another.

By the middle of August the females have all brought forth their young, and the old males, who have constantly occupied their places for four months without food, resign their charge to the bachelors and go into the water for the apparent purpose of feeding. The assertion that the seals live so long without food seems so contrary to nature that I will state that I took special pains to examine daily a large extent of rookery and note it carefully. The rocks on the rookeries are worn smooth and washed by the surf, and any discharge of excrement could not fail to be seen. I found in a few instances a single discharge of excrementitious matter on the arrival of the seals, but nothing subsequently to indicate that any food is taken; nor do they leave the rocks at any time except when compelled by the heat to seek the water to cool themselves.

On their arrival in the spring they are very fat and round, but at the end of four months are thin and of little more than half their former weight. I also examined the stomachs of several hundred young seals, but was unable to find any traces of food in them.

The udder of the female is situated about half-way between the fore and hind flippers, and is furnished with four teats. The milk is of a yellowish white color, insipid to the taste, and is said to contain no sugar. The pups nurse but seldom, and when separated from the

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