SPEED IN SWIMMING. 157 



not afford to waste time on feeding grounds already occupied by 

 younger and more active feeders; hence she makes the best of her way 

 to richer fields, farther away, gorges herself with food, then seeks rest 

 and a quiet nap on the surface. Under these conditions she sleeps 

 soundly, and becomes an easy victim to the watchful hunter. 



Those we killed in the Bering Sea were mostly females in milk. We 

 never went nearer to the islands than between 25 

 and 30 miles. We killed most of them while they „ fge. Thompson, 



were going to or returning from the fishing banks. 



The mother seals go out to sea to feed soon after giving birth to 

 their young, and return at intervals of from a few 

 hours to several days to suckle and nourish their Daniel Webster, p. 180. 

 young. 



I have never hunted within 15 miles of the Pribilof Islands; but I 

 have often killed seals iu milk at distances of not. _, . _ TTT1 

 less than 100 to 200 miles from these islands. Mlcllael WMe > 1K 490 ' 



The mother seals, while rearing their young on the Pribilof Islands 

 during the months of July, August, September, 

 and October of each year, leave the islands and w. H. Williams, p. 94. 

 go out to sea to feed, returning at intervals to 



give nourishment to their young. That they traveled long distances in 

 pursuit of food at these times is a well-known fact and substantiated 

 by the statements of reputable persons who have been on sealing ves- 

 sels and seen them killed 200 miles or more from the islands and who 

 say they have seen the decks of vessels slippery with milk flowing from 

 the carcasses of the dead females. 



SPEED IN SWIMMING. 



Page 119 of The Case. 

 [See also " Feeding Excursions."] 



By my observation I am convinced that a seal can swim more rapidly 

 than any species of fish, and I believe that a fe- 

 male could leave the islands, go to a fishing ground chas. Bryant, p. 6. 

 100 miles distant and easily return the same day. 



I think seals can without difficulty swim 10, 15, or even 20 miles an 

 hour for several hours at a time. 



Food around the immediate vicinity of the seal islands is at the best 

 of times scarce, and as the rookeries increase in 

 the number of their occupants it becomes neces- w. S. Hereford, p. 34. 

 sary for them each day to go farther and farther. 

 Distance, however, is no particular object to them, as they are very 

 speedy travelers. 



DEPARTURE FROM THE ISLANDS. 



Page 119 of The Case. 



And commence leaving in October, and but few are found on the 

 islands as late as December, unless it should be a 

 mild winter. C. L. Fowler, p. 25. 



