AQUATIC BIRTB IMPOSSIBLE. 117 



I have never known any pupa to be born in the Amos Mill, p. 285. 

 water or any on the land in this part of Alaska. 



Eave never known of pups being born in the water or anywhere 

 else on the coast of Alaska outside of the Pribiloff 



Islands. 



(1. A,'. Miner, #.466. 



(). Have you ever seen any seals born in the water and is it your 

 opinion that it is possible for them b> be born in 



the water? — A. They are not born in the water. Frank Moreau, p. 468. 

 A seal can not swim when it is first born. 



I never saw nor heard of any young pups being Eddie Morehead. p. 467. 

 born in the water. 



If a pup was born in the water it could not possibly live and T have 

 never heard oi such a case. A further facl in this 

 connection is that the females never come to the T. F. Morgan, p. 62. 

 islands accompanied by a pup. 



The statement that the fur-seal may bear and rear its young at sea 

 as well as on land is, in my opinion, wholly gra- 

 tuitous. 1 am unable to conceive of any ground ,/. m. Morton,p.67. 

 whatever upon which to base such an assertion. 



When born the "pup" is an exceedingly stupid animal, with an abnor- 

 mal development of head, and is apparently incapable of any exertion, 

 except in the way of exercising its lungs. At this time it is certainly 

 not an amphibious animal, for it, does not attempt, to approach Hie 

 water for a month or two alter its birth, and in its first natatorial 

 efforts not only does it seem to require instinct ion from the older seals, 

 but considerable practice is also necessary in the shallow waters along 

 the beaches before it dares to venture away from the shore and among 

 the turbulent waves of Bering Sea. In my opinion, the seal "pup" 

 when its first introduction to the world takes place at sea, must inevit- 

 ably perish. Assuming that it might float on the surface of the water 

 for a while, what is to become of it dining the long voyages the mother 

 must now make in search of nourishment for it and herself? The Sup- 

 position that it would be able to acccorapany her on such journeys is 

 equally as absurd as the idea, of its being left unprotected on the sur- 

 face of a, stormy sea, while awaiting her return. 



There is no doubt that a, seal born in the water j. n. MouUon,p.i2. 

 would at once perish. 



Have never known any pups to be born in the Smith Natch, p. 299. 

 water or on the land in British Columbia or 

 Alaska. 



I have never seen any pup seal born in the Dan Natulan, p. 287. 

 water or on the land anywhere around Urilish 

 Columbia or Alaska. 



I have never known any pups to be born in the water or on the land 

 around this part, of Alaska,. 1 am a very old man, 

 and i have never even heard of it. Jos. Ncishkaitk, p. 281. 



