RELATING TO PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 67 



young and are limited, so far as I have been able to obser\'e from long 

 and close observation of the rookeries during the breed- ^ 



, . 1 , ,1 Cows umnarous. 



mg season, to a single '^ pup." 



The statement that the fur-seal may bear and rear its young at sea 

 as well as on land is, in my opinion, wholly gratuitous. 

 I am unable to conceive of any ground whatever upon ^. P^i«gi« I'irtii impos- 

 which to base such an assertion. When born the 

 "pup" is an exceedingly stupid animal, with an abnormal develop- 

 ment of head, and is apparently incapable of any exertion, except in 

 the way of exercising its lungs. At thi« time it is certainly not au am- 

 phibious animal, for it does not attempt to approach the water for a 

 month or two after its birth, and in its first natatorial efforts not only 

 does it seem to require instruction irom the older seals, but considera- 

 ble practice is also necessary in the shallow waters 

 along the beaches before it dares to venture away from , J-^/''' learaing to 

 the shore and among the turbulent waves of Bering 

 Sea. In my opinion, the seal "imp" when its first introduction to the 

 world takes place at sea must inevitably perish. Assuming that it might 

 fioat on the surface of the water for a while, what is to become ot it 

 during the long voyages the mother must now make in search of nour- 

 ishment for it and herself? The supposition that it would be able to 

 accompany her on such journeys is equally as absurd as the idea of its 

 being left unprotected on the surface of a stormy sea while awaiting 

 her return. 



I desire also to express my belief concerning the seal life that the act 

 of copulation can not be successfully performed in the 

 water. Those who have witnessed its accomplishment wate?'imlwrsibie *''^ 

 on the rookeries must coincide with such opinion, A 

 firm foundation for the support of the animals, which the ground su}>- 

 plies, and the water does not, is indispensable to ojipose tlie i:>ushing 

 motion and forceful action of the posterior parts of the male which he 

 exerts during coition. The closest observation which I have been able 

 to give to the movements and habits of the seals in the water has fur- 

 nished no evidence to controvert the above opinion. 



The rutting season among the seals continues through the months of 

 June and July and into the early part of August, and ff,-,,,, ,„j, 

 ui)on its subsidence the rookery bulls, after their long ''* '"'^ «<;isoii. 

 fasting of two or three months, after many sanguinary battles, worn, 

 starved, and emaciated, return to the water. Younger males now make 

 their appearance on the rookeries, coming and going at will; and now 

 thousands and tens of thousands of "pups," "podded" together near 

 the beaches or plunging and rolling in the surf, may be seen. By the 

 middle of September the systematic organization of the rookeries is 

 entirely broken up, and the major part of the seals have left the land. 

 The seal life seems reluctant to depart from the islands, ^jj^^.^^^,,, 

 and does not entirely disappear before December or ^ ^si-* w- 

 January; while indeed, if the winter be an open and mild one, some 

 of the old males will not depart at all. The seals are undoubtedly 

 driven from the islands by the severe winter climate of Bering Sea 

 and the necessity of seeking food. Were it not for these facts, I should 

 be unable to conceive of any reason for their migration. 



The rookeries are covered by the breeding seals in a very compact 

 and regular manner. There is no evidence of crowd- 

 ing or bunching in one place, or scattering in another, i-o^'erieT"'* "' *^^ 

 and apparently no spaces within their limits, suitable 

 for occupancy, which are not covered. It is evident from this system- 



