PART SECOND. 



RELATING TO THE HABITS, PRESERVA- 

 TION, AND VALUE OF THE ALASKAN 

 SEAL HERD, AND TO THE PROPERTY OF 

 THE UNITED STATES THEREIN. 



HABITS OF THE ALASKAN SEAL, 

 THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



The Pribilof Islands are the liome of the Alas- 

 kan fur-seal {Callorhiniis ursinus). They are 

 peculiarly adapted by reason of their isolation 

 and climate for seal life, and because of this 

 peculiar adaptability were undoubtedly chosen 

 by the seals for their habitation.^ The climatic 

 conditions are especially favorable. The seal, 

 while on land, needs a cool, moist, and cloudy 

 climate, sunshine and warmth producing- a very 

 injurious effect upon the animals.^ These requi- 

 site phenomena are found at the Pribilof Islands 

 and nowhere else in Bering Sea or the North 



Note. — ^Names found in citations refer to depositions of same 

 found in the Appendix. 



' Charles Bryant, Vol. II, p. 4; Samuel Falconer, Vol. II, p. 164; 

 T. F. Morgan, Vol. II, p. 61 ; C. M. Scammon, Vol. II, p. 475; Dan- 

 iel Webster, Vol. II, p.' 180; J. C. Rodpath, Vol. II, p. 148. 

 * Samuel Falconer, Vol. II, p. 164. 



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