CONTROL AND DOMESTICATION. 221 



We could now, as we always did in the past, handle the young pups 

 in the fall. 



I believe the American Government to be justified in assuming and. 

 maintaining the absolute proprietorship of the 

 American seals. Theymay, I think, in the broad J- M. Morion, j>. 69. 

 sense of the word, be regarded as domestic a 



nials. They certainly possess qualities of a domestic nature which are 

 susceptible of a high degree of development. During the first two or 

 three months of their lives they are as gentle and docile as most domes- 

 tic animals. Theymay be handled and petted, will accept food at one's 

 hands, can be taught to follow one from place to place, and in various 

 ways are amenable to intelligent guidance and training. Even at ma- 

 ture age they are subject to as much control as are sheep or cattle. 

 They may be driven here and there at will; may be separated and 

 driven together again; divided into groups or "pods," great or small, 

 or be herded by thousands with less effort and trouble than bands of 

 cattle are herded on the plains. They are far from possessing that ex- 

 cessive timidity which has been popularly attributed to them. They 

 soon grow accustomed to the sight of man, and in the absence of offen- 

 sive demonstration on his part quickly learn to regard his proximity 

 with indifference. At no time can they be called aggressive animals, 

 but if suddenly attacked and their escape shut off, they will snap and 

 bite viciously. The rookery bull will defend his harem valiantly, and 

 nothing less than superior physical force on the part of his adversary 

 can dispossess him. To test his courage in this respect I have occa- 

 sionally attacked him with clubs and stones, and, though his family 

 were driven off or deserted him, he still held his ground and success- 

 fully resisted my utmost efforts to expel him from the rookery. 



The career of the fur-seal herd on these shores is not unlike that of 

 any domesticated animal — it is simply a stock- 

 breeding question. L ' A ' A "» ( '*> P- 8L 



Areas upon which it is agreeable for the females to breed are care- 

 fully reserved and set aside for that purpose. 



Each year a sufficient number of breeding bulls are reserved for 

 service on the rookeries. The utmost care is taken that the future of 

 the herd is not jeopardized by the injury or death of a female. 



So accustomed have the seals become to the presence of the natives 

 that the timidity and shyness manifested in the ocean is not shown on 

 the islands. In their infancy the pups will approach a native without 

 fear, and later on they are readily handled and the sexes separated, 

 should it be necessary to make a killing of pups for food. Tn the 

 handling, management, and enlargement of the seal herd there is as 

 much amenability to domestication as there is in a band of range cat! le. 



It has been said that man can do nothing to facilitate the propaga- 

 tion of the fur-seal. My experience docs not sup- 

 port this. The reservation of females and the j. c. Eedpath, p. 152. 

 killing of the surplus males, so that each bull can 



have a reasonable number of cows, is more advantage to the growth of 

 the rookeries than when in a state, of nature bulls killed each other in 

 their efforts to secure u single cow. 



The same care can be and is exercised in the handling and manage- 

 ment of the seal herd as is bestowed by a ranchman upon his bands of 

 ranging stock, and is productive of like results. The seals have be- 



