122 REPORT OF BRITISH COMMISSIONERS. 



in tlie Falkland and otlier islands in the Sontliern Tleniispliore, scatter 

 out to tbnu small irregular Oolonies beneath clill's or rocks which are 

 practically iiuiccessibleto man. They would thus doubtless numage to 

 peri)etuate their species, but the numbers might be very much reduced, 

 so that the skins would cease to be a factor of commercial importance. 

 The continued prosperity of seal life requires, from its jieculiar features, 

 above all things, complete regularity and protection on the breeding- 

 places, and, deprived of these advantages, it lies open to niany acci- 

 dents and fiiilures, wiiich must att'ect it more prejudicially than can be 

 determined from the actual numerical amount of the slaughter for 

 skins. The extract from Scammon's work, quoted in paragraph 399, is 

 to the point in this connection. 



(P.) — Fur-seals Breeding on the Southern Part of the North American 



Coast. 



447. It is evident tlmt many years ago a considerable number of fur- 

 seals bred in various places along the western coast of North America, 

 and probable that the seals so breeding did not take any part in the 

 migration of the larger body to Behring Sea. Statements previously 

 quoted respecting the fur-seals of the Californian coast show this, and 

 the traditions of the Indians of the coast of British Columbia, "partic- 

 ularly those relating to Race Kocks and Smith's Island, appear to have 

 the same meaning. Judge J. G. Swan has also collected much evidence 

 to the same effect, with particular reference to the vicinity of Cape 

 Flattery, which may be found detailed in the "Fishery Industries of 

 the United States" (vol. ii, p. 393), and in the "Bulletin of the United 

 States Fish Commission" (vol. iii, p. 201). Some of his observations 

 we have been unable to confirm, but the statements since obtained from 

 Mr. J. W. Mackay go far to iDrove that, in still earlier years than those 

 referred to by Judge Swan, a certain number of seals regularly occupied 

 certain breeding places in the vicinity of the Straits of Fuca. 



448. Once established, whether on the Californian or British Colum- 

 bian coasts, such a race of southern-breeding seals umst have become 

 sub-pernuxnent; and, following' the analogy of other rookery grounds, 

 it is probable that the same animals tended each year to reoccupy the 

 same, or nearly the same, breeding stations. It is probable that these 

 southern-breeding families may have been directly comiected with the 

 larger northern-breeding race, and it is at least easy to see how they 

 may have originated and been recruited from it. Females delayed from 

 any cause, and giving birth to their young along the coast to the south- 

 ward, must often be served by young males, and irregular and too early 

 service may also occur in many instances in the case of young females, 

 or of those barren since the previous year. In all such cases of too 

 early service, it would be impossible for the female to reach the Priby- 

 loff" Islands in time for the birth of the young, owing to climatic causes. 

 She would, no doubt, remain with the other seals till impelled by nature 

 to seek the shore, and if in any particular year a considerable number 

 of females collected together for breeding purposes, the males would 

 doubtless soon find and follow them, and, if undisturbed, the family 

 thus established might probably return to the same place again in the 

 next ensuing- year. 



449. This reasonable explanation, at all events, accords with the facts 

 ascertained, and, moreover, in itself appears to have so much force, 

 that even apart from these facts, it would be admissible to predicate th*! 

 occasional birth of young along the whole extent of coast frequented by 



