98 



HABITS OF THE ALASKAN SEAL. 



Does not mingle tioiied IS the fact that sealmg' vessels are seldom 



"\vi til Kutjsian herd. 



seen in those regions, and never remain any 

 length of time/ 

 Classification. j^ considering the habits of the Alaskan seal 

 the herd will be divided into four classes, based 

 upon age and sex. 



First. The pups, or pup seals, being the seals 

 of both sexes under one year of age. 



Second. The bulls, or " sekatchie," being the 

 male seals from six or seven years old upwards, 

 which are able to maintain themselves on the 

 breeding grounds. 



Third. The cows, or "matkie," being the female 

 seals over one year old. 



Fourth. The bachelors, or ^'holluschuckie," 

 being the nonbreeding male seals, their age rang- 

 ing from one to five or six years. 



All references hereafter made to seals, unless 

 specifically stated to the contrary, pertain to the 

 Alaskan fur-seal, and all mention of rookeries 

 refers exclusively to those located on St. Paul 

 and St. George islands of the Pribilof group. 



THE PUPS. 



Birth. The pup is born on the breeding grounds 



during the months of June or July." Its birth 



1 ElialiProkopief, Vol. II, p. 215; Kassian Goiloi,Vol. II, p. 212. 



2 T. F. Morgan, Vol. II, p. 61 ; Samuel Falccmer, Vol. II, p. 161, 



