Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-06-24

lently jealous, and the new acquisition
cannot be enticed unless the rival fights
a successful battle. But the fortunate
husband soon has his attention called to
a new appearance of COWS, and while he
is engaged with number two his next
neighbor reaches his long neck, picks
up number one by the nape of the neck,
and lands her within his own precinct.
When number two is brought to shore
the two bulls at once have fight, dur
ing which two other rivals take posses
sion of both COWS! The gentle COW thus
progresses with some rapidity to back
station where the lord is not so often be-
guiled by new arrivals, and there she
rests. AS before said, these COWS bring
forth almost Immediately. Then they
leave the pups in charge of the bull,
who cares for them so faithfully that he
sometimes remains four months out of
the water. During this time he is de-
prived of food, and lives on the store of
fat he has accumulated during the win
ter.
This trial is much more severe than
that of the bears Information, for the
seals are extremely active during their
deprivation. No special organic pro-
vision for this ordeal has been found,
the stomachs showing no popularity
either in spring or fall. The long fast,
however, greatly weakens them, and
after two or three months the old bulls
who have not been able to get place
on the breeding ground, and have con-
sequently spent the summer in cruising
around behind the rookery, find it pos
sible to come forward and drive out their
once powerful antagonists. This phase
of seal life is as singular as any other,
for the new conner does not think of
driving away the pups born under the
seignorage of his predecessors, but on
the contrary takes the place of faithful
guardian to them.
AS to the COWS, they are so gregarious
that even when they come in such num-
bers as to be able to make q choice they
prefer the best filled harem. They will
not lie quiet away from the great mass
of their sisters. The consequence is that
the stations nearest the water have from
twelve to fifteen COWS each, and those in
the rear from five to nine. When they
come up from the water they bl-a-a-t to
their young, who answer in the same
manner, andin this way they are quickly
singled out. Some signal is necessary,
for after they are two months old they
collect together by tens of thousands,
frolicking and sleeping. Yet it is strange
that the mothers will see them killed
without showing any concern. Even the
fierce old guardian who protects them
and their mothers seems to have no in
terest in them personally. 1t is pre-
clint that he guards, and if they stray
beyond that, they get no care from him.
The pups do not know their mothers,
but being inclined by nature to bl-a-a-t
necessarily, the mother can find her
own. By the time she reaches it, it
may have fallen asleep, and then she
has nothing to do but take nap her
self, for she cannot find it in the wrig-
Cling and crawling mass of thousands Of
pups, and she will not let any other take
its place. ..EE
The females come to maternity at two
years of age, the bachelors at five OF
six; and as there are million and hall
of these classes who are not admitted tc
the harems, it is obviously necessary to
have some provision for them in seal
sociology. They take their rest on so.
called "hauling grounds" OF which
there are two kinds. The most favored
is near the water, in some place apart
from the breeding grounds. The other
lies further inland, and must be reached
by passing through the precincts guarded
by the patriarchs. The bachelors are
allowed to do this, and q path running
between the harems is by common con.
sent regarded as neutral. On this path,
way steady stream of bachelors is
passing, while the neighboring patri
archs guard their seraglios with re.
doubled vigilance.
Such are some of the peculiarities oi
seal colony, and amuch moro complete
account of them is given by Prof. Elliot
in letter from the secretary of the
treasury to the House of Representa-.
tives, published by the United States
government. The sound arising from
these great breeding grounds, he says,
"Holo IuouSduuS upon GuOuSanQS OF
angry, vigilant bulls are roaring, chuck.
ling, piping, and multitudes of sea-
mothers are calling in hollow, bla-atine
tones to their young, which in turn re.
spond incessantly, is sindescribable. It is,
at slight distance, softened into q deer
booming, as of cataract, and can be
heard long distance off at sea-undel
favorable circumstances, as far as five OF
six miles-and frequently warns vessels
that may be approaching the islands in
thick weather of the proximity of land. >
The value of the seal islands to the
United States government is, by com.
mon mode of calculation, as follows
Two million seals of suitable age fo1
killing, at So 62i, gives $3.50, OOO
This amounts to twenty years. taxes, but
takes no account of the annual rent
which would be 81, 100, 900 more in thai
time. Total value of seal islar DIS alone
$6,350,000. The other furs which
Alaska sends to our markets bring al
least one-half the value of the sealskins,