574 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



well recognized. This same influence is not less strikingly exemplified 

 in the extensive migrations of the Alaskan fur-seal, which cover 

 diagonally 25 degrees of latitude, and, following the route of the herds, 

 embrace a distance of over 2,500 miles, which is traversed when the 

 seals are bound north to their breeding-grounds in Bering Sea and 

 again when they seek the coast of the United States after the breeding- 

 season. 



The fur-seal, although usually described as having almost human 

 intelligence, is really a rather stupid animal, whose reputation for intel- 

 ligence is based largely upon appearances (especially its soft, beautiful 

 eyes, which appeal to one in their apparent innocence) and upon the 

 cleverness displayed in finding its way over immense distances in the 

 ocean. Great stress has been laid on the latter faculty, which has been 

 a matter of more or less speculation. In this and most other move- 

 ments, however, the fur-seal is very largely governed by the tempera- 

 ture of the water, and is controlled by circumstances rather than 

 guided by intelligence, as it requires but little mental capacity to carry 

 out the laws that nature has provided for it by which it finds its way 

 to distant points in the ocean. When compared with the subtle instinct 

 displayed by many species of migratory birds on their way to and from 

 the same regions resorted to by the fur seal, the movements of the 

 latter are rather commonplace. Combined with the directing influence 

 of the temperature of the water is the wonderful rapidity of action 

 which enables the animal to cover with little effort a vast area of ocean 

 in a remarkably short time. 



The lonely and remote islands of St. Paul and St. George are admi- 

 rably adapted for the breeding purposes of the fur-seal, and are the only 

 islands in the eastern part of Bering Sea or the North Pacific Ocean 

 suited to the requirements of this animal. Owing to the stupidity of 

 tbe seals they are almost defenseless when on shore, and many would 

 fall au easy prey if the islands were infested with predatory mammals 

 or birds, while their timidity would probably cause the eventual 

 abandonment of the islands if, while on the rookeries, they were liable 

 to the sights and sounds of modern civilization. 



The seals leave the rookeries in the fall and are driven out of Bering 

 Sea by the decreasing temperature of the water as winter approaches. 

 They then seek the more genial waters off Vancouver and California. 

 On withdrawing from Bering Sea, they follow its current south through 

 the passes in the Aleutian Islands and then meet with the Japan 

 current, which leads them to the coast of Alaska, where there is an 

 abundance of food. Thence they follow the cold current down the coast 

 to Vancouver, off which land the old male seals remain and disperse 

 over the adjacent ocean, having found a temperature suited to their 

 condition in a region well stocked with fish food. 



The old male seal is six or eight times larger than the female, and, 

 having a superabundance of fat, requires a lower temperature of water 



