12 



" Wherever a long continuous shore-line is occupied as a breeding 

 rookery, neutral passages are set apart at convenient distances, through 

 which the younger seals may pass from the water to the upland and 

 return unmolested. Often a continuous line moving in single file may 

 be seen for hours together going from the water to the upland, or the 

 reverse, as the case may be. "When suddenly disturbed while sleeping 

 on the upland by an attempt of an animal to cross the rookery at any 

 other place, a general engagement ensues, which often results in the 

 death or serious crippling of the combatants. 



" The old males are denominated by the natives Seacutch (married 

 seals). These welcome the females on their arrival, and watch over 

 and protect them and their young until the latter are large enough to 

 be left to the care of their mothers and the younger males. 



" Those under six years old are not able to maintain a place on the 

 rookery, or to keep a harem, and these are denominated Holluscliuclc 

 (bachelors) . 



" As soon as a female reaches the shore, the nearest male goes down 

 to meet her, meanwhile making a noise like the clucking of a hen to 

 her chickens. He bows to her and coaxes her until he gets between her 

 and the water, so that she cannot escape him. Then his manner 

 changes, and with a harsh growl he drives her to a place in his harem. 



" Then the males higher up select the time when their more for- 

 tunate neighbours are off their guard to steal their wives. This they 

 do by taking them in their mouths and lifting them over the heads of 

 the other females, and carefully placing them in their own harem, 

 carrying them as cats do their kittens. 



" Frequently a struggle ensues between two males for possession of 

 the same female, and both seizing her at once pull her in two, or 

 terribly lacerate her with their teeth. 



" In two or three days after landing, the females give birth to one 

 pup each, weighing about six pounds. It is entirely black, and 

 remains of this colour the whole season. 



" There are at least twelve miles of shore line on the Island of 

 St. Paul's 1 occupied by the seals as breeding grounds, with an average 

 width of fifteen rods. There being about twenty seals to the square 

 rod, gives 1,152,000 as the whole number of breeding males and 

 females ; deducting one-tenth for males, leaves 1,037,800 breeding 

 females. Allowing one-half of the present year's pups to be females, 

 this will add half a million of breeding females to the rookeries of 1872, 

 in addition to those now there, while the young of last year and the 

 year before are also to be added. This estimate does not include the 

 males under six years of age, those not being allowed on the rookeries 

 by the older males, nor the yearlings. If we now add those frequent- 

 ing St. George's Island, which number half as many, and make a very 

 liberal discount for those that may be destroyed before reaching 

 maturity, the number is still enormous. It will also be seen that the 



1 Coast of Kamtschatka. 



