ALASKA. 205 



THOUGHTS UPON POSSIBLE MOVEMENTS OF THE 

 EUE SEALS IN THE FUTURE. 



As these animals live and breed upon the Prjbilov Islands, 

 certain natural conditions of landing-ground and climate ap- 

 pear from my study of them to be necessary to their existence 

 and perpetuation. From my surveys made upon the islands to 

 the north, Saint Matthew's and Saint Lavcrence, and the authen- 

 tic corroborating testimony of those who have visited all of the 

 mainland-coast on our side as well as the islands adjacent, in- 

 cluding the Peninsula and the Aleutian Archipelago, I have 

 no hesitation in stating that the fur-seal cannot breed on any 

 other land than that now resorted to within our boundary -lines; 

 the natural obstacles are insuperable. Therefore, so far as our 

 possessions extend, we have in the Prybilov group the only eli- 

 gible land on which the fur-seal can repair for breeding, and on 

 Saint Paul alone there is still room enough vacant for the 

 accommodation of ten times as many as we find there now. 



But we know that to the westward, and within the jurisdic- 

 tion of Eussia, are two islands — one very large — on which the 

 fur-seal regularly breeds also, and though, from the meager 

 testimony in our possession, we are told that it is in small num- 

 bers only, still, if the land be as suitable for the reception of 

 the rookeries as is that of Saint Paul, then what guarantee have 

 we thatat some future time the seal-life on Copper and lee- 

 ring Islands may not be greatly augmented by a correspond- 

 ing diminution of our own with no other than natural causes 

 operating? Certainly, if the ground on either Copper or Be- 

 ring Island is as well suited for the wants of the breeding fur- 

 seal as is that on Saint Paul, then I say that we may at any 

 time note a diminution here and iind a corresponding augmen- 

 tation there, for I have clearly shown, in my chapter on the hab- 

 its of these animals, that they are not particularly attached to 

 the respective places of their birth, but that they land with 

 an instinctive appreciation of its fitness as a whole. The want 

 of definite knowledge in regard to the character of the Rus- 

 sian islands is a serious drawback to any correct generalization 

 as to the limit of migration, and they ought to be examined in- 

 teUigently with this view, for if these Russian islands do not 

 present any considerable area of eligible breeding- ground as on 

 Saint Paul, then we know that they will never be resorted to 



