474 TESTIMONY 



every accessible autLority upon that subject and added the result of 

 my own observation and experience. Since then eighteen years have 

 elapsed and many new facts have been brought to light concerning 

 them, confirming for the most part what was then written, yet modi- 

 fying to some extent the conclusions arrived at. 



The nomenclature and technical terms of seal-hunters have changed 

 somewhat. We hear of "cows" instead of "clap- 



Technicai terms. j^^tches," "bulls" instead of "wigs," and "bachel- 

 ors" or "holuschuckie" instead of "yearlings." At the time my book 

 was written the regular migratory habits of the animals were not as 

 well understood in respect to the routes of migration as they are now, 

 and naturalists always commence their description with the arrival of 

 the different classes of seals at the northern breeding grounds, begin- 

 ning with the "bulls" in the early spring, following them with the 

 "cows" and "bachelors" at a later date, and then taking up the bu'th 

 and development of the young. This, I think, resulted from our igno- 

 rance of where thev spent the winter months. Now it 



Migration. -^ ^^jj knowu that the Pribilof seals work their way 



down to the coasts of California, Oregon, and British Columbia, and 

 go north again in the spring; and that the Commander Islands herd 

 migrates down the Asiatic coast, the two herds keeping apart from 

 each other. I held this opinion many years ago, as is shown by my 

 letter to the honorable Secretary of the Treasury, written August 30, 

 1869, as follows, and later observations and reading have confirmed 

 my conclusions: 



"San Francisco, Cal., 



^^ August 30, 1869. 

 " Sir : While on the station at Puget Sound frequent opportunities 

 oifered to observe the habits of the fur seals. 



"I have long been of the opinion that those seen off the mouth of 

 Juan de Fuca Strait were a portion at least of the great herds that make 

 their annual visits to the islands of St. George and St. Paul, Bering 

 Sea. 

 " Since my return to this city I have gathered furthei* information 

 Migration which couvinccs me that beyond question the seals pass- 



igra ion. j^^. ^^^^ uiouth of the Strait during the months of March, 



April, and a part of May resort to the above-named islands to bring- 

 forth their young, as nearly all the females (and no others are caught) 

 taken by the Indians at this point have foetuses in them that to all 

 apj)earances would be brought forward on their arrival at their north- 

 ern summer haunt. 



" From personal observation, as well as from the most reliable infor- 



mation, it is quite certain that there has been taken by 



un mg. ^^^ Indians of Vancouver Islands and Washington Ter- 



mE taken"^"^"* ^'^" I'itory during the last spring about 5,000 fur-seals, 



and almost invariably each animal was with young, so 



that in taking the number of adults above mentioned there were actually 



destroyed near 10,000 seals. 



" Having every reason to believe that vessels will be fitted out to take 

 seals off the strait the coming season, I have thought it well to make 

 this report to the Department. 



" I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, 



" C. M. SCAMMON, 



" Capt., U. 8. E. S. 

 "Hon. Geo. S. Boutwell, 



'■^Secretary of the Treasury, Wasli'nujton, D. G. 



