Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-06-24

or forty days before the pnp can b,
taken to the water. and four months be
fore he Is strong enough to follow th'
mother on her migratory journey through
the ocean. As each mother has one pup
the four square feet Of ground whicl
formed her resting place carries two
lives, and the computation given above
OF 3,193,670 breeding seals on thes.
islands is made from measurement O
the area occupied by the " rookeries.
Prof. Elliott found their distribution st
uniform that he calls it ga fine instinc
tive law of distribution" and says the
government agent can always safely re-
port upon the condition of the seal cror
by observing the area occupied by the
animals between the tenth and twentieth
OF July. That is the week,of their great
est expansion. When the purpose fol
which they have landed is accomplished,
the systematic organization breaks up,
and the seals scatter, some straying in.
land, and tho whole herd may cover
twice its normal ground. OF every
100,00 breeding seals more than 85, ,OOO
are cows and less than IL, 600 bulls, and
in few weeks after the females begin
to land, there are about 18O, 1000 parents
and pups on the same ground.
In the autumn and early winter the
seals take their departure. Where they
go is not ascertained definitely, but they
probably spread themselves over the
North Pacific, following schools of fish
or frequenting banks and shoals where
they can find food. The amount OF
food required by them is immense. At
five pounds each per day, which is not
half enough for q full grown male,
they, the seals of these two islands, will
eat up no less than three million tons
of fish in n year. This immense guam
tity makes it evident that human care
can do nothing to assist their propaga-
ton. In the sea they have enemies,
but it would be simply impossible to
obtain food enough for them at the
islands, even if it were the only point
to be considered. To get such q sup
ply they spread themselves over the
ocean, and there come in contact with
enemies as voracious as they are.
Killer-whales and sharks make such
havoc among them that of million
pups, which is the estimate of years
Increase, not more than one-half return
the next spring. Some observers put
the proportion much lower, and with
great applicability considering thehelpless-
ness Of the sucklings. The second year,
however, they are better able to care
for themselves, and do not lose more
than one-tenth of their numbers. After
that they do not suffer much during
their lives OF fifteen or twenty years.
From natural enemies the pups have
most to fear, for they are probably the
most toothsome, as well rs the most
helpless. In the stomach of one killer
whale no less than fourteen small harp
seals were found. But man also has
his share in their destruction, and he
strikes what he finds without regard to
age. The seal loves to sleep on the
surface of the water, and are often sur
prised in this condition by whal-
ers and the natives. 1t is quite common
to find shot and even bullets imbedded
inthe blubber, just under the skin, of
the young seals killed on the islands.
We're it not for these various enemies,
there is no knowing where their increase
would stop. Ont Of a million pups born
every year, $50, 900 are destroyed at sea
in the first two years of life, 100, 600
more are killed for their skins, and
probably 5000 are killed by natives, or
die soon after birth. This lisa total loss
of 675, 600 of less than five years of age
yearly, by accountable causes, and yet |
the increase is reported at five per cent,
or 200, 600 seals year. As the artificial
destruction of one-tenth tho annual in
crease by man does not interfere in the |
least with their perpetuation, Prof. Ell
lott considers that they have arrived at
their maximum expansion. One reason,
however, for the slight effect of the
hunt upon their numbers is that none
but males are killed. Of the $50, 900
which survive at the end of the second
season, one-half are probably males.
But their family relations are such that
only one-6fteenth of the males are
needed, and the remainder, or more than
200, 900, can be killed in their second,
third, and fourth years without disturb
ing their natural increase. In fact, on
its present basis, the seal hunt can safe
ly supply about 18O, 200 skins a year.
The conditions of this business are
such that there is no reason why, with
out unexpected accident, the seals
should not continue to earn at least
$4,000 a year for the United States
government for centuries to come. To
make this certain it is proposed to have
Them carefully mapped as they lie on
their breeding grounds, and compared
from year to year. They bear this in
,pection very we'll. Those which arrive
earliest are sometimes timid, but when
;he males are in great numbers they
AXE no notice of the inspector. They
ire fortunately not affected by village
sounds, unless very near, nor the stencil
If the slaughter field.
The habits of seals are as interesting as .
hose of any animal known. The mere
act that, if the observers are not mis-
aiken, only one-ffteenth of the males =,
,an set up a family, indicates that the law
If selection must be in active use among
hem. The cows do not come to land !,
Until their young are ready for birth,
md having borne them, they leave the
principal care Of the pups to husband ]
Who is not the father. There is no
,roof, but evidence to the contrary, that {
he seals, male or female, seek the same
cookery year after year. The strongest I
warriors get the first pick, and the sys- I
EN- of unlimited roguery in which they l
indulge makes it impossible for COW to
eturn either to her old home or her old !
husband. The strongest bulls establish |
on the water line, and when I
he first COWS appear they are received q
With great afiability, and coaxed and
lrged up on to the rocks. Their new
ound masters and protectors are vio-
emily jealous, and the new acquisition
annot be enticed unless the rival fights q
successful battle. But the fortunate s
husband soon has his attention called to G
new appearance of COWS, and while he i
) engaged with number two his next |
eighbor reaches his long neck, picks q
p number one by the nape of the neck, i
nd lands her within his own precinct. ]
When number two is brought to shore i
he two bulls at once have fight, dur q
pg which two other rivals take posses 4