328 REPORTS OF BERING SEA COMMISSION. 



Copulation. after the birth of their pups. They then take the 



water, and come and go for food while nursing. 



F(Mtiiizatiou of 14. Many youns" bulls succeed in securina" a 



youug cows. ./ ./ o o 



few cows behind or away from the breeding 

 harems, particularly late in the season (after the 

 middle of July, at which time the regular 

 harems begin to break up). It is almost certain 

 that many, if not most, of the young cows are 

 served for the first time by these young bulls, 

 either on the hauling grounds or along the water 

 front. 



These bulls may be distinguished at a glance 

 from those on the regular harems by the circum- 

 stance that they are fat and in excellent condi- 

 tion, while those that have fasted for three 

 months on the breeding rookeries are much 

 emaciated and exhausted. The young bulls, 

 even when they have succeeded in capturing a 

 number of cows, can be driven from their stands 

 with little difficulty, while (as is well known) 

 the old bulls on the harems will die in their 

 tracks rather than leave. 

 Ago of puberty 15 The COWS are believed to take the bull first 



in cows. 



when two years old, and deliver their first pup 

 when three years old. 

 Age at which iQ Bi^^Hs first take stands on the breeding 



mah's go m breed- o 



mg grounds. rookerics when six or seven years old. Before 



