34 TESTIMONY 



kept open, the tube was passed down his throat into his stomach, the 

 syringe filled with milk, in quantity as before stated, and which was 

 unanimously agreed was not too much for him at one feeding, was 

 slowly injected down the tube into his stomach. After the operation 

 the tube was carefully withdrawn and " Jimmie" was left to his own 

 devices. The pup, much to the gratification and amusement of all 

 present, immediately began to show in the most unmistakable manner 

 the greatest of seal delight, i. e., to lie down in the various positions 

 of seal comfort, on his back and side, and Avave and fan himself with his 

 flippers, scratch himself, bleat, etc. As these signs were unmistak- 

 able to all present who were familiar with the habits of seals, the op- 

 eration was thought to be a success. Up to the last time the pup was 

 seen, late that night, he was doing finely, but next morning he was 

 found dead, and 1 attributed his sudden taking oft' either to the small 

 boy or an accident during the night. 



Another instance is that of a young pup seal born under almost sim- 

 ilar circumstances some years previous, and deserted by his mother. 

 Itwas placed near thewater's edge to see if ina tew daysits motlier would 

 not return to it, or maybe it might take to the water naturally and 

 swim across to an adjoining rookery a few yards distant, and possibly 

 there be found by its mother and its life thus be saved. 

 'vate?.^ '^'^^ " ^^^ Day after day this pup was watched, but it would not 

 go near the water and neither did its mother return. 

 After several days or so a new employe of that season only, and know- 

 ing nothing whatever of fur- seal life and habits, coming along that way 

 and finding the pup in the grass, thinking probably that he had gotten 

 lost from the other side took him up and threw him into the water, 

 with a view of giving him a chance of swimming back home. It was a 

 mistaken kindness, however, for he was immediately drowned, as he 

 was too young to swim, his head being too heavy for his body. 



These cases demonstrate two points, i. e., that a very young fur-seal 

 Pelagic, birth impos- cau livc a Considerable time without nourishment, sev- 

 sii^'e. eral days or more; also that they can not swim, and any 



and all fur seals born in the water must necessarily x^erish. 



I remember these two instances distinctly, as I was very much 

 Impressed by them at the time. Others might possibly be cited, but I 

 think these will snfitice. These two isolated instances show that a 

 young fur seal can live without its mother's care for a week or so, and 

 that the little fellows on the rookeries, who probably have been nursed 

 to their heart's content before the mother seals took their departure, 

 stand at least an equal, if not superior, chance of life, until their 

 mothers return from the feeding grounds, even giving them wide mar- 

 gins for delays. 



It is asserted that the fur seals give birth to their young also on 



kelp patches, and lie asleep on their backs, with their 



keTp.^^ ^''* ^''^^ °° offspring in their embrace, clasped to their breasts. 



This is descriptive of the sea otter, but is not true of 



the fur seal. 



It is known and currently believed among the natives of the seal 

 islands, and also among the employes of the sealing company, past and 



Females feeding P^eseut, that the mother seal will go great distances 

 and be gone for long periods of time in quest of food, 

 Such is also my observation and l^elief. In fact it is a common thing 

 to see squads or herds going out and coming in at various times dur- 

 ing the day. Food around the immediate vicinity of the seal islands 

 IS at the best of times scarce, and as the rookeries increase in the num- 

 ))er of their occupants it becomes necessary for them each day to go 



