DISCIPLINE OF THE BEACH MASTERS. 59 
outswim her pursuers. In one or two instances a chase of this sort could be traced 
for a half mile or more out to sea by the dolphin leaps of the animals as they rose 
above the surface to breathe. These instances were chiefly to be seen late in June, 
before the band of seals off the rookery front was large enough to furnish protection 
to the departing cows. 
METHODS OF DISCIPLINE. 
In the ordinary discipline of the harem a grow] from the bull usually quiets the 
cows. This growl is also forthcoming when the cows quarrel among themselves, as 
they frequently do. Sometimes it is necessary for the bull to get up and quiet them 
by chuckling and scolding over them, apparently ina tone of remonstrance. 
At times, even when his cows are all asleep, the bull rouses himself up and by 
encircling his harem and whistling, chuckling, and snarling starts the cows up and 
crowds them together. No apparent reason for such action can be seen. Jt seems on 
the face of it an unnecessary exhibition of authority, which, however, may servé some 
purpose. Having rounded up his harem, the bull may return to his favorite sleeping 
spot to resume his nap, or he may pick a quarrel with his neighbor. 
THE FIGHTING OF THE BULLS. 
At times the young bulls, in attempting to reach the rear of the rookeries without 
going around, break through the line of harems. Their entrance into the rookery 
confines sets everything in an uproar. Each bull into whose domain he comes attacks 
the intruder and passes him along to the next. Occasionally some over-valiant bull 
-goes too far from his harem. The idle bulls are on the alert and seize the occasion to 
carry off cows. In very rare instances an idle bull may step in and take the whole 
harem, whipping out its rightful owner when he attempts to return. So, over the 
whole section of the rookery thus stirred up, fighting ensues and confusion reigns. 
In the héight of the breeding season such incidents are of hourly occurrence. 
THE EARLY FIGHTING OVERESTIMATED. 
It is in the height of the season, and then alone, that the excessive fighting 
among the bulls occurs. It-has been currently supposed that from the period of the 
landing of the first bulls they were engaged in defending their positions in bloody 
battles; that a truce resulting from these first contests for places was gradually 
established; that this was broken on the arrival of the first cows, when a period of 
desperate and spasmodic fighting began. 
Such, however, was not the case in 1897, and has probably never been the case. 
As the bulls spend the days, after the breeding season is over, in resting and sleeping 
in good fellowship on the sand beaches, so they seem to spend the period of waiting, 
prior to the arrival of the cows, in sleeping and resting. At the time of our landing 
at St. George, on June 7, it could not be determined from the deck of the vessel, 
anchored but a few rods off the rookery, whether it was occupied or not. With a 
glass a few bulls could be seen. On close inspection the beach was found to contain 
180 adult bulls evenly distributed over the rookery territory. When disturbed they 
roused up and roared both at the intruder and at one another; but: they soon returned 
to their sleep. There was no commotion, no excitement. When pressed too closely 
they gave evidence of willingness to yield their ground. No test of whether they could 
