204 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



oft' Cape Flattery, about southwest, I saw a thick bed of kelp about 

 which fur seals wen* playing. I noticed one in particular, a female, on 

 This bed of kelp. Her actions indicated that she was about to give 

 birth to a pup, as she paid no attention to us, but kept moving about 

 as if she was making a bed. After watching her a while I sent a canoe. 

 and the Indian killed the seal and brought it on board. On opening it 

 the young pup was taken out alive audit traveled about the deck, rais- 

 ing itself on its fore nippers and making a bleating cry. It was per- 

 fectly formed and there was every evidence from the appearance of 

 both the mother and the maturity of the pup that it would have been 

 born on that bed of kelp in a very short time if we had not disturbed 

 the mother. The Indians carried the pup ashore, where I saw it alive 

 several days after. I tried to buy it, but they refused to sell. I have 

 no doubt that if this pup had been properly fed and feared for that it 

 would have lived to have grown up to maturity. I have had many years' 

 experience in the sealing business at Cape Flattery, and every season at 

 its close the young pups are plenty. 1 think, as the Indians do. that these 

 pups are born in the water or on kelp beds. My opinion is that the fur seal 

 of the cape come from Lower California, and that they do not go to the 

 Pribloff Islands. I think their habits are different from the fur seals of 

 Saint Paul's." 



The following extracts are -from letters to me from Alexander C. 

 Anderson, esq., inspector of fisheries, British Columbia: 



" I note what you say about fur seals. It is very desirable that the 

 discrepancy between the statement of Mr. Elliott, and the accounts of 

 local observers should be reconciled. Mr. Elliott is very dogmatic in his 

 statements, and certainlv treats Your remarks with scaur courtesy. I 

 hope you will renew the subject and discuss it at large from our local 

 point of view. The true solution will, probably, be as you suggest — 

 that our seals are of the southern variety and quite different in habits 

 from the northern species. Mr. Elliott, however, argues under the as- 

 sumption that our seals are only a detachment from the northern herds, 

 and dovetailing all his observations to correspond. 



"Victoria, British Columbia, June 24, L882." 



"I have not yet procured the information I desired about the fur seals, 

 but will attend to it as soon as opportunity serves, and Mill let you 

 know the result. I think everything will appear to sustain your opin- 

 ion. 



"Victoria, B. C, August 24, 1882/' 



"I have spoken with Captain Warren and Captain Spring, both 

 largely engaged in the seal trade, concerning the pupping of seals. The 

 former of the two appeared to be reticent, and 1 do not think has been 

 a close observer, so far as the natural history of the seal is concerned. 

 lie could tell little or nothing to settle the pup question. Captain 



