VENIAMINOP'S ACCOUNT OP THE FUR SEAL. 221 



Sealers are doubtful about the age of the female when she bears her first young 

 as also in regard to the age generally reached by the fur seals. The first probably 

 takes place in the fifth year, while the age hardly exceeds 25 years. 



This questiou, so very important (in its relation) to the sealing industry, is not 

 yet settled. 



The delivery of the female commences the 30th of May, aud lasts through the 

 whole of June and even to the 10th of July. Usually only one young is borne annually, 

 though instances are known, nowever, of a mother giving birth to two pups, but 

 always paying for it with her life. 



The sikatch does not begin his conjugal attentions to the female immediately after 

 she has been delivered, rather giving her time for complete recovery. Copulation 

 continues for a quarter of an hour or more. The bull has intercourse but once with 

 each female, afterward paying no attention to her whatever, she being allowed to 

 move from the harem lu whatever direction she pleases. The sikatch is able to cover 

 from fifteen to twenty-four females in twenty-four hours. He is deprived of sleep until 

 all the females have been fecundated, and if he sometimes seems to doze, yet the 

 lightest step of a female trying to escape is noted, when raising himself he utters a 

 menacing roar. 



In spite of the dispropor,tion of their bulk, it never happens that the male crushes 

 the female. But the female of the fur seal will sometimes get crushed when covered 

 by a young sea lion. The result of such an intercourse, if she survives, is a hybrid, 

 having the head, feet, and hair of a sea lion together with the fur of a fur seal. 



The young fur seals feed exclusively on their mother's milk from birth until 

 leaving the island. The female never suckles her young while in the water, but comes 

 ashore for that purpose, and attends her offspring in a resting position. 



The pups do not go into the water very soon after birth. When 30 to 35 days old 

 they commence to take to the water close to shore, in places sheltered from the wind, 

 and always without being guided by their mothers. Having by and by become famil- 

 iar with the water — that is to say when about 40 to 50 days old — ^they assemble in 

 separate bands, visiting the neighboring rocks aud sand banks. By August longer 

 excursions are made, still unaccompanied by the mothers. In September the pups 

 retire in smaller squads to warm and quiet sands, sometimes passing the entire day 

 in such a spot where they may be joined by the young females of the preceding 

 season. If one of the pups stays away longer than twenty-four liours the mother will 

 go in search of it.' 



The pups learn to swim without any guidance, but their mothers teach them how 

 to escape from the attacks of their enemies and from other daugers. Prom time to time 

 false alarms are made for this purpose, all running toward the sea, obliging the pups 

 to hasten after them. Such exercises are generally practiced a short time before leav- 

 ing the island, this comprising the entire course of education.^ 



The color of the young fur seal when born is black, but after the 10th of September 

 it changes to gray, the old hair being shed and new growing out. 



The yearlings stay in the neighborhood of the females until September, passing the 

 time in all manner of play. Some carry a comrade into the water, others bite each 



'Probably a misinterpretation of the actions of cows fresh from sea and looking for their 

 young. — Ed. 



^ Veniaminov had probably ■witnessed partial stampedes, such as that noted elsewhere in this 

 report, and had made the above interpretation of them. — Ed. 



