208 PELAGIC SEALING. 



Destruction of the seals killed, in the North Pacific are mostly 



prcguaut fomales. 



females carrying their young.^ James Jamieson, 

 a sealer of five years' experience, makes the same 

 statement.^ Frank Morreau, with five or six 

 years' experience as a seal hnnter, says that 

 about seventy-five per cent of the cows taken are 

 "in pup," ^ and many others make similar state- 

 ments.* 

 Reason prop;- One rcason why such a large proportion of 



nant females are o i. i 



taken. pregnant female seals are taken along the coast 



is clearly stated by Andrew Laing in his exam- 

 ination before Collector Milne, of the port of 

 Victoria, British Columbia, the deponent being 

 recognized by the collector as one of the most 

 experienced seal hunters. On being questioned 

 as to whether he noticed "any marked, difi'erence 

 in the manner the females carrying their young 

 travel as compared with the males," he replied: 

 "The only difference I could see is that they 

 will travel very fast for a little distance, and then 

 turn up and rest." And again being asked 

 whether he thought the pregnant female more 

 shy than the male, he answered, "No, I think 



'VoLII, p. 450. 



2 Vol. ir, p. 329. 



3 Vol. II, p. 468. 



nVilliam Short, Vol. II, p. 348; Ellabasli, Vol. II, p. 385; rctor 

 Simes,Vol. II, p. 47G; Thomas Brown (No. l),Vol. II, p. 319; Tliomas 

 Lyoiis, Vol. II, p. 460 ; John A. Swain, Vol. II, j). 350 ; James Nuata- 

 jiin,Vol. IL p. 272 ; KomUus, Vol. II, p. 242 ; Amos Mill.Vol. II, p. 285 ; 

 Simeon Chiii-koo-tia, Vol. II, p. 256; lleiiry Browu, ^'ol TI, p. 317. 



