RELATING TO FUR-SEALS AND SEALSKIN INDUSTRY. 363 



the islands but very little. I have carefully observed seal life, the con- 

 dition of the rookeries, and the method of taking seals at all seasons 

 and under all conditions, with the object of keeping the Bussian Gov- 

 ernment thoroughly informed as to its sealing interests and the proper 

 management of the same. 



While I have never had the opportunity to examine the Pribilof 

 Islands seals, yet I do not hesitate to express the opinion 

 that that herd and the Commander Island herd are ^^mingiingofBeai 

 distinct and do not mingle at all. There are some 

 natives on the islands who are familiar with both, and who state that 

 there is a marked difference in the animals. Besides, my studies as a 

 naturalist enable me to state that it would be contrary to all reason to 

 suppose that they mingle with one another. The Commander herd 

 approaches very closely to the Eobben Island herd in winter, and yet 

 it does not mingle with it. Of this I am sure, for I have charge of Rob- 

 ben Island as well as of the Commander Islands, and know the skins of 

 the two herds to be different. The skin of the Commander seal is 

 thicker, has coarser hair, is of a lighter color, and weighs about 20 per 

 cent more than a Eobben skin of the same size. 



It is wholly improbable that the seals of the Commander herd visit 

 any land other than the Commander Islands. I believe 

 they regard these as their home, these islands being pe- siveiv to™^ breed- 

 culiarly adapted to their needs at the period of bringing in s pi ac es. 

 forth their young and of breeding. The fact that the Eobben Island herd 

 still frequents Eobben Island to the exclusion of any other land, not- 

 withstanding it has been subjected there to the utmost persecution, 

 shows to my mind conclusively that the presence of man will not pre- 

 vent a seal herd from returning to the same land year after year. Even 

 if isolated cases have occurred (I know of none) in which, for various 

 causes, a few of the Commander Island seals reached other shores, such 

 exceptions would not disprove the general rule above stated. I can 

 readily understand that a female which had been wounded in the water 

 might be subject (sic) to seek the nearest land and there give birth to 

 her pup. 



Annually, at almost stated periods, they arrive at the islands and im- 

 mediately proceed to occupy the same grounds which 

 have been occupied during past years in a way which se ^g nual arrival of 

 makes it impossible to doubt that they are familiar 

 with the locality. I believe that at some time during the year every 

 seal comes ashore. There is no reason to believe that a certain num- 

 ber of any class remain swimming about in the neighborhood of the 

 islands all summer without landing, although there is considerable dif- 

 ference in the time at which different classes arrive. 



Soon after landing at the Commander Islands those cows which were 

 fertilized the year previous give birth to their young. „._,.. 



A 7 j. . • -j. * 7 . & Birth of young. 



A cow does not, except in very rare instances, give 



birth to more than one pup in a season. The birth of pups can only take 



place on shore. Cows never arrive at the islands with new-born pups. 



But the impossibility of birth in the water is best proved by the fact 



that the pup when first born is purely a land animal in all its habits. 



It does not voluntarily approach the water till it is 



several weeks old, and then it is obliged to learn to 



swim. A surf will sometimes wash the young pups off the rocks, when 



they are sure to be drowned. The pups cannot swim at birth, but 



must be taught by their mothers. A pup would drown if thrown into 



the sea before learning to swim. 



