APPENDIX. 493 



Charles Bryant, 1871: Page 30. 



It is likely that the reference here to the taking of pnps about Sitka 

 is intended to refer to some of the Aleutian Islands, where to this day- 

 pups are taken in the bays and inlets while the herd is passing south- 

 ward into the Pacific Ocean. As the pups and their mothers leave the 

 islands in company, and as the latter are taken off the California coast 

 in December, their course south must be very direct. It is only on the 

 return trip in March, April, and May that the seals are taken along the 

 coast of British Columbia and in the vicinity of Sitka. 



Charles Bryant, 1872: Page 36. 



It is here suggested that the ''4 and 5 year old bulls perform an 

 important service along the shores during the period of incubation." 

 A 4 or even 5 year old bull can not obtain a place on the breeding 

 grounds. The males Captain Bryant has in mind are doubtless 6 and 7 

 year olds, which tease and obstruct the movements of the females when 

 landing or going to sea. They are not essential to the welfare of the 

 rookeries, except as they represent a maturing reserve of bulls, and 

 they probably seldom serve cows. 



Samuel Falconer, 1872 : Page 39. 



While the restriction here noted relating to the use of firearms on 

 and about the rookeries is wise, the inference that it had anything to do 

 with the increase of the seals is without warrant. 



The only effect which the use of firearms about the rookeries could 

 have would be to temporarily drive the seals into the water. It would 

 not drive them from the islands. 



Samuel Falconer, 1873: Page 56. 



The weight of the pup when born instead of being 6 to 8 pounds as 

 here stated, is between 11 and 12 pounds. 



It is an error to suppose that the pups are taught to swim, or even 

 assisted in the art, by the older seals of any class. The young bachelors 

 hanging about the rookery fronts frequently play with the swimming 

 pups and tease them, but the bulls and cows pay no attention to them. 

 The first pups to seek the water may follow the example of the depart- 

 ing cows and the later ones follow the example of the earlier, but they 

 are not in any sense " taught " to swim. 



It has been currently believed as here reported that many pups are 

 killed by the surf, and a few are undoubtedly so killed, but the number 

 is insignificant. Before the pup has learned to swim well it keeps to 

 the shallow and protected pools. When it has become expert, it likes 

 nothing better than to play among the breakers, and does so with 

 impunity. 



It is suggested under the head of copulation that the service by the 

 bull " continues at intervals of a week for each female." There is no 

 reason whatever to suppose that the act of copulation is repeated with 

 the same female. 



Samuel Falconer, 1874: Page 57. 



It is not true to any considerable extent that the yearlings of " both 

 sexes haul ux> on the backgrounds." Occasionally a yearling cow will 

 be found among the bachelors, but the number is very small. Such of 



