APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 493 
can be done, for it is impossible to protect them from deadly enemies in their wander- 
ings for food. 
“This great body of four and five millions of hearty active animals must consume 
ap enormous amount of food every year. They cannot average less than 5 lbs. of fish 
each per diem (this is not half enough for an adult male), which gives the consump- 
tion of over three million tons of fish every year! 
“To get this immense food supply the seals are compelled to disperse over a 
448 very large area of the North Pacific and fish. This brings them into contact 
more and more with their enemies as they advance south, until they reach a 
point where their annual destruction from natural foes is equal to their increase, and 
at this point their number will remain fixed, About the Seal Islands I have failed to 
notice the least disturbance among these animals by anything im the water or out, 
and from my observation I am led to believe that if is not until they descend well 
to the south in the North Pacific that they meet with sharks and voracious killer- 
whales.” * 
The following extract from the Report of Mr. H. H. McIntyre, Special Agent of 
the Treasury at the islands in 1869, largely supports the foregoing views: 
“The habits of the fur-seal are peculiar and, in considering the action necessary 
to their protection, deserve careful attention. "From the statements of the employés 
of the late Russian-American Company, the information derived from the intelligent 
native Chief of St. Paul Island, and my own observation during the summer of 1869, 
I have reached the following conclusions: The seals reach the Islands of St. Paul 
and St. George in May, June, and July of each year in the following order—first, a 
small number of old male seals, known as wigs, visit the islands very early in the 
spring, or as soon as the ice has melted sufficiently to allow them to reach the rocks 
upon the shore. Their object at this time seems to be solely to reconnoitre their old 
rookeries with a view to reoccupy them, if they have not been disturbed, and the 
natives, so understanding it, avoid any noise likely to alarm them, and in case the 
wind is in such direction as to carry the smoke from the Settlement towards the rook- 
eries all fires are extinguished. After afew days these pioneers take their departure, 
and as the season advances, if they have been undisturbed on the occasion of their 
first visit, they return, bringing with them all the males of mature age, above 5 or 6 
years old, who are able to maintain their places in the breeding rookeries. Climbing 
up on the rocks, each seal selects his position and takes possession of and occupies 
through the season, if sufficiently strong, from one to three square rods of ground. 
Still later in the season, when the ice has nearly disappeared, the females” arrive, 
conveyed by the young males above one year of age, who are unable to occupy the 
rookeries with their seniors. The females, immediately on reaching the shore, are 
appropriated by the old males and taken to the e places respectively selected by them 
for the season, which is generally the same for many successive years. It is asserted 
that the same male seal has been known to occupy one rock for more than twenty 
seasons. The young seals above one year of age, called bachelors, take their posi- 
tions around the edges of the rookeries or remain in the water, and are constantly 
trying to steal the females from their respective masters, who also rob each other of 
their families, by stealth or strength, whenever occasion offers; and thus an inces- 
sant quarrel is maintained at all points, which keeps the old males constantly on the 
alert. They never leave their places, seldom sleep, nor do they eat anything what- 
ever during the entire season irom May to August, when they go into the water; 
but, as far as can be ascertained, take 1o food until their final departure in Novem- 
ber. It may be remarked, however, that they are very fat on arrival and quite as 
lean at the time of leaving in autumn. The young seals are supposed to feed 
while in the water, but this has not been definitely proved, nor is the nature of 
their food well known, since an examination of their stomachs seldom reveals more 
than a green mucilaginous matter. Following all others, the yearling seals arrive 
about the middle of July, accompanied by a few of the older males, and remain for 
the greater part of the time in the water. Soon after their arrival in the months of 
June and July the females bring forth their young.” (Ex. Doc., 41st Congress, 2nd 
Session, No. 36, p. 14.) 
Reference has been made to the raids upon the rookeries, and to the fact that 
insufficient care has been taken of the breeding-ground. It is contended that it is 
the duty of the Government, drawing an enormous rental from these islands, to care- 
fully guard and protect them, and it is undoubted that, with efficient protection, 
the increase of seal life will be more marvellous than ever. 
Mr. Tingle, in 1886, in his Report to Secretary Fairchild, urges the Government to 
keep a cutter around the islands from the Ist July to the Ist November. 
*«In the stomach of one of ‘these animals (year pefore last) four teen small harp- 
seals were found.”—WMichael Carroll's Report, Canadian Fisheries, 1872. 
