The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-05-09


175l, up to the beginning of the last de-
cade, even the scientific world knew moth
ing definitely in regard to the habits of
this valuable animal, although the truth
connected with the life of this seal Of the
Pribylov Islands is far stranger than 6c-
tion.
With the exception of our seal islands,
there are none others of much Importance
elsewhere in the world, the vast breeding
grounds in the antarctic having been, by
the united efforts Of all nationalities. mis-
guided, short-sighted, and greedy Of gain,
entirely depopulated Only few thou
sand unhappy strasglers are now to be seen
on the Falkland Islands and contiguous
islets, where millions once were found, and
small rookeries are protected aud foslered
by the government of Buenos Ayres north
and south Of the mouth Of the Rio de Ia
Plata but the seal life on the Pribylov
Islands, thanks to the foresight Of the
Russians, has been preserved to the pres
ent day in all of its original integrity and
wonder
The seal islands of Alaska are four in
number, two of which, however, are mere
rocks, and Of little or no Importance COM
pared with the others, st. Paul and ST.
George, the former of which is the great
seal ground Of the northern hemisphere,
and without parallel at the present time
on the face Of the globe, This little island
lies in latitude SO s. north, longitude
1902 ~ west, and is visited annually bv
over five millions Of fur seals while St.
George, lying to the southeast, only twenty
seven miles from St. Paul, is resorted to
by less than two hundred and fifty thou
sand, the nature Of the coast high, bald,
and bluffy, not permitting the breeding
seals to lie upon the beaches in safety.
The other two unimportant islets--0ttcr,
five miles south Of st. Paul, and Walrus
Island, six miles east Of the same-arc not
unworthy Of mention, especially the latter,
upon which herds Of hundreds of immense
bull walruses can be viewed to the greatest
advantage at all seasons of the year, in
company with clouds of breeding water
fowl.
The systematic and regular routine Of
the lives Of the fur seals upon these islands
nearly six months of every year, the long
fasting ofthe males on the breeding grounds
when presiding over their harems og from
ten to twenty females, which are strangely
disproportionate in size, can not fail to
draw the attention Of the most casual OBJ
server.
With the clearing away of ice and snow
come the first seals of the season, usually
by the lst or I'd of May, All these carly
arrivals are males, full grown, which au,
ticipate the coming of the females even
six weeks in advance. Thus, by being
first upon the ground for the season, they
are able to choose their locations without
much difficulty, upon which each is to re-
ceive his family.
From the time the male comes ont and
takes his position upon the rookery ground
until he leaves it at the close Of the sea,
son--a period usually Of a little over three
months-he takes no food or water, and
never for an instant, unless driven away
by superior force, leaves his ground, which
is about ten feet square in area. The sub
sistenec of fur seal males for three or four
months without eating, while engaged in
the most violent exercise, combined with
the greatest vigilance, Is marvellous, for
they do not stagnate, IKE bears, or similar
alternating animals. None Of the other
classes, the cows, young males, and pups,
sustain any protracted fasting, the cows
feeding every two or three weeks, at least,
while the young males and yearlings Of
both sexes seldom stay upon land more
than week or ten days at any one time.
The males fight desperately, even to
death, for their positions on the rookeries,
the combatants, with teeth clinched in
each others hides or fiippers, struggling in
savage though alert unwieldiness, their
rOars of rage aud defiance being half stiaed
by the violence Of the conflict
The females are, however, exceedingly
amiable in disposition, and are only about
oue-fourth the size Of the males, which will
weigh from three hundred to Eve hundred
pounds early in the season, having six to
seven feet of length. The females weigh
on an average eighty pounds, and measure
four feet in length,
The bodies Of these animals are covered
with two coats, one OF short coarse over
hair, and the other soft, close, elastic fur,
which is completely concealed by the for.
mer. The prevailing color among the
males on the breeding grounds is a rusty
brownish-black, with dark gray orrufous-
ochre patch or ewig" over lhe shoulders,
while the females show shining stecl-like
tints on the back, with pure white on the
inferior parts. This beautiful coloring,
however, soon fades, by exposure to the
weather, to a dull rufous.brown and gray.
hom the lst Of june TO the l4th the
females begin to make their appearance,
and afterward, up to the sth of July, they
arrive BY thousands and tens Of thousands
landing in obedience 70 some ssbtle 10,