American Fisheries Society 231 



Islands say that these two pups appear fully as large and 

 fine in every way as those of the same age on the rookeries. 



Not only have these two pups been kept in fresh water 

 but the water in the summer was much warmer than any 

 Alaska fur-seal was ever before called on to endure. In 

 July the temperature of the water ran as high as 83° F., 

 and the average for that month was 80°. But this high 

 temperature apparently produced no evil results; indeed, 

 the seals during July were not only as playful and active 

 as usual but they actually ate more during that month than 

 in any other. 



They have proved the most interesting pets that have 

 ever been kept in the aquarium at the Bureau of Fisheries. 

 They are the most expert swimmers imaginable. Their 

 favorite pastime is to swim rapidly around the large pool 

 in which they are kept, sometimes as rapidly as the most 

 rapidly flying bird, often jumping like porpoises and splash- 

 ing water on unsuspecting visitors. They circle about the 

 pool, always turning to the right with the hands of the 

 clock. Immediately after feeding they begin scratching and 

 rubbing themselves, a sort of massage which doubtless aids 

 digestion. 



These fur-seal pups have now been kept in captivity more 

 than a year. They have been kept in fresh water more than 

 nine months. They are now sixteen months old and appear 

 to be in excellent condition. The experiment has so far 

 proved eminently satisfactory. It has demonstrated a 

 number of very important facts. In the first place it has 

 shown that fur-seal pups can be taught to take food when 

 offered them by man. It also shows that they can be 

 kept in captivity, carried long distances on vessels or rail- 

 road trains without any special difficulty, that they will live 

 and thrive in fresh water, that a salt-water environment is 

 not essentia], and that they can live without any apparent 

 discomfort in water of a much higher temperature than 

 that of their natural habitat. 



The success of this experiment also suggests a number 



