76 FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



characteristic of this class, is that nothiug like ill-hiinior appears in all of their 

 playing together; they never growl, or hite, or show even the slightest angry feel- 

 ing, but are invariably as happy, one with another, as can be imagined. This is a 

 very singular trait; they lose it, however, witli astonishing rapidity, when their 

 ambition and strength develops and carries them, in due course of time, to the 

 rookery. 



The ]>up8 and yearlings have an especial fondness for sporting on the rocks which 

 are just at the water's level and awash, so as to be covered and uncovered as the 

 surf rolls in. On the bare summit of these wave-worn spots they will struggle and 

 clamber in groups of a dozen or two at a time throughout the whole day, in 

 endeavoring to push off that one of their number which has just been fortunate 

 enough to si'cure a landing. The successor has, however, l)ut a brief moTuent of 

 exultation in victory, for the next roller tliat comes booming in, together with the 

 pressure by its friends, turns the table, and the game is repeated, with another seal 

 on top. Sometimes, as well as I could see, the same squad of holluschickie played 

 for a whole day and night, without a moment's cess ition, around such a rock as this 

 off Nah Speel rookery; but in this observation 1 may be mistaken, because the seals 

 can not be told apart. 



SEALS AMONi; THE BREAKERS. 



The graceful unconcern with which the fur seal sports safely in, among, and under 

 booming breakers during the prevalence of the numerous heavy gales at the islands 

 has afforded me many consecutive hours of spell-bound attention to them: absorbed 

 in watching their adroit evolutions within the foaming surf that seemingly every 

 moment, would in its fierce convulsions, dash these hardy swimmers, stunned and 

 lifeless, against the irou-bonud foundations of the shore which alone checked the 

 furious rush of the waves. Not at all. Through the wildest and most ungovernable 

 mood of the roaring tempest and storm-tossed waters attending its transit I never 

 failed, on creeping out .and peering over the bluffs in such weather, to see squads of 

 these perfect watermen, the most expert of all amjjhibians, gamboling in the seeth- 

 ing, creamy wake of mighty rollers which constantly broke in thundertones over 

 their alert, dodging heads. The swift succeeding seas seemed every instant to poise 

 the seals at the very verge of death. Yet the Callorhinus, exulting in his skill and 

 strength, bade defiance to their wrath and continued his diversions! 



SWIMMING FEATS OF THE BACHELORS. 



The hoUuschuckie are the champion swinnners of all the seal tribe; at least, 

 when in tlie water around the islands they do nearly every fancy tumble and turn 

 that can be executed. The grave old males and their matronly companions seldom 

 indulge in any extravagant display as do these youngsters, jumping out of the water 

 like so many dolphins describing beautiful elliptic curves, sheer above its surface, 

 rising 3 and even 4 feet from the sea, with the back slightly arched, the fore flippers 

 folded tightly against the sides and the Jiinder ones extended and pressed together 

 straight out behind, ])lumping in head first: to reappear in the same manner, after 

 an interval of a few seconds of sul)marine swimming, like the flight of a bird on 

 their course. Sea lions and hair seals never jump in this manner. 



All classes will invariably make these dolphin jumps when they are surprised or 

 are driven into the water, curiously turning their heads while sailing in the air, 

 between the "rises" and "plumps," to t.ake a look at the cause of their disturbance. 

 They all swim rapidly, with the exception of the pups, and may be said to dart under 

 the water with the velocity of a bird on the wing. As they swim, they are invariably 

 submerged, running along horizontally about 2 or 3 feet below the surface, guiding 

 their course with the hind flippers as by an oar, and propelling themselves solely by 

 the fore feet : rising to breathe at intervals, which are either very frequent, or else, so 

 "wide apart, that it is impossible to see the speeding animal when he rises a second 

 time. 



How long they can remain under water without taking a fresh breath is a problem 

 which I had not the heart to solve by instituting a series of experiments at the island ; 

 but I am inclined fo think that if the truth were known in regard to their ability of 

 going without rising to breathe it would be considered astounding. On this point, 

 however, I have no data worth discussing: but will say that in all their swinuniug 

 which J have had a chance to study, as they passed under the ^vater, mirrored to my 

 eyes from the bluff above by the Avhitish-colored rocks below the rookery waters at 

 Great Eastern rookery, I have not been able to satisfy myself how they used their 

 long, flexible hind feci other than as steering media. If these posterior members 

 have any perceprible motion it is so rapid that my eye is not quick enough to catch 

 it; but the fore flippers, however, can l>e most distinctly seen as they work in feath- 

 ering forward and sweeping flatly back, opposed to the water, with great rapidity 

 and energy. They are evidently the sole propulsive power of the fur seal in the 



