108 HABITS OF THE ALASKAN SEAL. 



Arrival at islands. They arrive on the breedmg gromvls in the 

 hitter part of April or first few days of May,^ but 

 the time is to a certain extent dependent on the 

 going out of the ice about the ishiiids.^ The bull, 

 if it is not his first experience upon the breeding 

 grounds, endeavors to land u2:)on the same rook- 

 ery whicli he occupied in former years, ^ and in 

 . many cases the same bull has been observed to 

 occupy the same position (generally a large rock^) 

 on the same rookery for several successive years.'^ 

 A position, however, is not obtained without 

 many sanguinary battles between the rival bulls 

 for the more coveted places near the water.^ 

 Arrival of tiie Toward the latter part of May or first of June 



C0\V8. 



the cows begin to appear in the waters adjacent 

 to the islands and immediately land U2)on the 

 breeding grounds.^ The great majority, however, 



' Appendix B, Report of American Bering Sea Comuiissioners, 

 post, p. 385; J. Stanley Brown, Vol. II, p. 13; Nicoli KrukofiF, Vol. 

 II, p. 133; John Fratis, Vol. II, p. 108; J. C. Redpath, Vol. II, p. 

 148; C. L. Fowler, Vol. II, p. 25. 



2 Daniel Webster, Vol. II, p. 180. 



3 Report of American Bering Sea Commissioners, jJost, p. 325. 

 ^ J. C. Redpath, Vol. II, p. 148. 



6 Report of American Beriug Sea Commissioners, j)ost, p. 325; 

 IT. H. Melutyre, Vol. II, p. 43. 



^Anton Melovedoff, Vol. II, p. 144; Aggie Knsliin, Vol. U, p. 129; 

 Nicoli Krulcoflf, Vol. II, p. 133; John Fratis, Vol. II, p. 108; C. L, 

 Fowler, Vol. II, p. 25. 



