The weekly Shasta courier., 1873-01-18
Seals-Their Homes and Habits.

Out of the twenty five varieties,
there is believed to be but one among
the Diaries (eared seals) that furnishes
fur under the ordinary cover of hair.
The peculiarities of tais animal were
unknown to naturalists until after the
year 1925, although tae capture of it,
for its valuable skin, had been pursued
for many days previous to that date.
The Otaria Folklandica, or fur seal
of commerce, has been in former years
widely distributed over the world; but,
owing to persistent hunting and indis-
criminate slaughter in its land home, it
is now found in but few places i'll any
great numbers. A striking peculiarity
of this animal, different from other spe-
cies of the seal, is, that when ruthless
ly destroyed and swept off from their
accustomed places of resort, such loca-
tions, even if undisturbed for years,
never recuperate or become re-peopled
with seal.
The fur seal was formerly found in
great numbers in the Southern Ocean.
Kergulan's Land, Falkland Islands,
South Shetlands, South Georgia, lower
coast of South America, Juan Fernan-
dez and Massafuero Islands, were at
one time famous hunting grounds. In
the Northern Ocean, the west coast of
North America, some islands of Behr-
ing Sea and coasts of Japan, have been
found to be inhabited, at seasons, by
these animals. 10
1t is a singular fact, however, that
with all this wide distribution, none
have ever been found in the waters
Joining those of the North Atlantic
Ocean. While around Greenland, Ice
land, Nova Zembla, and northern coasts
of Europe the common or hair seal is
very abundant, the fur seal has never
been found in those localities.
The habits of this animal are very
peculiar, and form an interesting study.
In the spring of the year, in either
northern or southern hemisphere, they
leave the water and resort to the land
in countless thousands, remaining some
months; then, on the approach of win-
ter, all depart for unknown localities.
1t is believed. however, that they spend
the intervening time at sea in a milder
latitude than their island homes would
be in mid-winter. Where do they co.
has often been asked, but never salts
factorily answered. Perhaps it is well
that it has not, for if pursued in the
water as well as on the land, total an
initiation would ensue. Being fitted
by nature to inhabit equally well the
shore and ocean, it is probable that
after their visit to the land their voyage
to sea is one of rest and recuperation.
They are known to sleep on the surface
of the water, and their active and play
full habits when in this element have
often been observed by seamen. While
at sea they become quite fat, and when
first landing on the beach in the spring
their size often makes them unwieldy,
but their strength is proportionally in
creased. In their habits of life these
animals are completely gregarious, but
in visiting the land they separate them
selves into classes of different ages and
sexes.
Seals are particularly attached to
their chosen resort, and if undisturbed
return to it with unfailing regularity;
they seem to love to congregate togeth-
er. Often, when many islands are
contiguous, they select one or two,
crowding upon them to the neglect of
others apparently as good.
Woe to the seal if his rookery is ac-
cessible and is not guarded by laws and
penalties against the rapacity of man,
The lust of greed, the desire to make
the most money in the shortest time,
has caused the utter destruction of
these valuable animals in many locali-
ties. No rookery of large size is now
known in the Southern Ocean. The
cupidity of man has caused their de-
struction in almost all of their haunts