SUMMARY OF THE EVIDENCE. 261 



As a general rale, the impregnation is by the bull to whose harem 

 she belongs, and not by the young males, as has sometimes been stated. 

 These young males also pursue a female when she is allowed to leave 

 the harem and go in the water, but she refuses them. I am positive 

 from my observations that copulation in the water could not be effec- 

 tual, and would be a most unnatural occurrence. 



John Armstrong, for a long time an employe in the Alaskan service 

 in connection with the sealeries testified with much caution, and is the 

 only one of the witnesses who does not speak with absolute confidence. 

 His testimony is as follows (ibid., p. 2): 



I am asked whether the seals c< >pulate in the water. It is a question that 

 is often discussed at the islands, and neither the scientific observers 

 nor the unscientific are able to agree about it. I have seen seals in 

 position when it seemed to be attempted, but doubt whether it is effec- 

 tually accomplished. If it were, I think we should see pups sometimes 

 born late and out of season, but such is not the case. 



V. — The Pup is Entirely Dependent upon its Mother for 

 Nourishment for Several Months after, its Birth. 



The Cows will suckle their own Pups only and the Suck- 

 lino is done only on Land. 



As in the case of all mammalia, the young must be dependent for 

 nourishment during a certain period upon the milk furnished by the 

 mother. The proof, moreover, is uncontradicted, and the British Com- 

 missioners admit that the suckling is done only on land. There is a 

 question raised, however, which it may be useful to discuss, namely: 

 Are the pups suckled only by their mothers or do these act indiscrim- 

 inately and give nourishment to such young as they may happen to 

 find conveniently at hand? It is asserted in the Case of the United 

 States that these animals constitute no exception to the general rule by 

 which the mother recognizes her own offspring and nourishes it alone. 

 This is the language of the Case (page 114) : 



A cow, as soon as a pup is brought forth, begins to give it nourish- 

 ment, the act of nursing taking place on land and never in water, and 

 she will only suckle her own offspring. This fact is verified by all those 

 who have ever studied seal life or had experience upon the islands. 



William Brennan (Appendix to Case of the United States, Vol. II, p. 

 359). The testimony of Mr. Brennan, a native of Great Britian and a 

 resident, at the time of making his deposition in 1802, of Seattle, in the 

 State of Washington, is interesting and enters into minute details, 



