ORAL ARGUMENT OF SIR CHARLES RUSSELL, Q. C. M. P. 67 



extent of the rookery, and note carefully the resnlts of my observations. The rocks 

 on the rookery are worn smooth and washed clean by the spring-tides, and any dis- 

 charge of excrement could not fail to be detected. I found, in a few instances 

 where newlv-arrived seals had made a single discharge of red-coloured excrement, 

 but nothing'was seen afterwards to show that such discharges were continued, or 

 any evidence that the animals had partaken of food. They never left the rocks 

 except when compelled by the heat of the sun to seek the water to cool themselves. 

 They are then absent from the land for but a short time. I also examined the stom- 

 achs of several hundred young ones, killed by the natives for eating, and alwaj'S 

 V, ithoit finding any trace of food in them. The same was true of the few nursing 

 females killed for dissection. On their arrival in the spring they are very fat and 

 unwieldy, but when they leave, after their four months' fast, they are very thin, 

 being reduced to one-half their former weight. 



Now, it does not seem more remarkable that tlie male, subject to tbe 

 trying conditions lie is subjected to during this period, should go with- 

 out food tbau the nursing female should go without food. 



The matter is further referred to at paragraph 242, on the top of 

 page 42. 



In a note appended to the above by Professor Allen, that gentleman writes : Steller 

 states that in the numerous specimens he always found the stomach empty, and 

 remarks that they take no food during the several weeks they remain on land; Mr. 

 IJall coniirms the same statemeut in respect to the present species, and Cajitaius 

 Cook, Weddel, and others, who have opportunities of observing the different south- 

 ern species, affirm the same fact in respect to the latter. Lord Shuldham long since 

 stated that the walrus had the same habit, though its actual fast seems somewhat 

 shorter than those of the eared seals This singular phenomenon of a pro- 

 tracted annual fast during the period of parturition and the nursing of the young — 

 the season when most mammals require the most ample sustenance — seems not 

 wholly confined to the walruses and eared seals. So far as known, however, it is 

 limited to the pinnipedes; and, excepting in the case of a single member, the sea- 

 elephant, to the two above-named families. By some of the old writers the sea- 

 elephant was said to feed sparingly, at this time, on the grasses and sea-weeds that 

 grew in the vicinity of its breeding places, but the Aveight of the evidence in respect 

 to this point seems to indicate that this species fast similarly to the eared seals and 

 walruses during the period it resorts to bring forth its young. 



243. The fur-seals on Juan Fernandez are likewise reported, and without qualifica- 

 tion as to sex, to abstain from nourishment during the breeding season: "Toward 

 the end of the mouth of June these animals come on shore to bring forth their young, 

 and remain to the end of September without stirring from the spot, and without 

 taking any kind of nourishment." 



Those are extracts from the authorities mentioned. Then the British 

 Commissioners proceed : 



Though not at the time aware of Bryant's statement, above quoted, the absence of 

 excrementitious matter Avas one of the first points noted and remarked on by us after 

 landing upon the Pribyloff rookeries, and it is to the absence of such matter alone that 

 the continuous herding together on one spot for several months of so many thousand 

 animals is on sanitary grounds rendered possible. It became obvious that so soon 

 as the seals commence again to feed, it must be absolutely necessary for them to 

 abandoil their crowded quarters on shore. The evidence thus afforded, that the 

 females do not feed to any notable extent until the young are practically weaned, 

 or, at all events, until very late in the suckling season, is perhaps more definite than 

 that given in any other way. 



I think there is only one other passage that I have to refer to in that 

 connection. It is on page 54 of the Report commencing with paragraph 

 303, which my learned friend will, no doubt, kindly read for me. 



Sir Richard Webster. — Paragraph 303 : 



The feeding habits of the seals, and the distances to which seals engaged in breed- 

 ing on the islands may be supposed to go for food, as well as the period of the breeding 

 season at which excursions in search of food begin to be made, are important because 

 of their direct bearing on the limits of protection which might appropriately be 

 accorded about the islands at the breeding season. 



Then 304 deals with the full grown bulls; and 305 is: 



304. The full-grown bulls, or beachmasters, holding stations on the rookery-grounds, 

 undoubtedly, in the majority of cases— if not invariably— remain on duty throughout 



