FUR SEALS OR SEA BEARS. 237 



five years old called " Hollus-Chuekie " or Bachelor Seals 

 by the natives, because they are not allowed by the old 

 bulls to mix with the females. 



The Bachelor Seals arrive at the islands early in the 

 season, but they are not compelled to undergo any long 

 periods of fasting. Even when they take a position in 

 the rear of the colony, they are allowed to make their way 

 to and from the beach through passages between the 

 stations. 



The hauling ground they select however is generally 

 a space on the beach at some distance from the stations 

 and extending about a quarter of a mile inland. They 

 are restless creatures, but though very sportive and frolic- 

 some they never quarrel or fight. They only keep to the 

 shore on dull, foggy days. When it is bright and warm 

 they spend most of their time in the water ; doing all kinds 

 of fancy tumbling, jumping out of the water like so many 

 dolphins, or describing beautiful elliptical curves, as they 

 rise three or four feet from the sea, with the back slightly 

 arched, and the fore flippers folded back against the sides 

 while the hinder limbs are extended and pressed together 

 straight out behind. 



The fact that the Bachelor Seals are compelled to herd 

 by themselves, frequently miles away from the breeding 

 grounds, greatly facilitates the arrangements made for 

 their slaughter. Some morning early in June, the time 

 when the skins are at their best, a company of natives 

 will run along the beach; and having turned them inland 

 from their hauling grounds will drive the animals at 

 the rate of a half a mile an hour to the place of slaughter. 

 At the killing-grounds the herd is first allowed to rest and 

 cool, and then they are drawn off in "pods" or detach- 

 ments of from fifty to a hundred each, and despatched 

 by being knocked on the head with oaken bludgeons. The 

 killing gang always have an understanding as to what 

 grades are to be killed, and permit the others to escape and 

 make their way back to the sea. In the days before the 

 limitation of the catch, a party of forty-five natives would 

 drive, kill and skin upwards of 72,000 Seals in four weeks. 

 Now there is no occasion for such haste, and more time 

 can be given to the careful selection of the animals to be 

 killed. 



