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

vision for this ordeal has been found
the stomachs showing no peculiarit.
either in sp, ing or fall. The long fast
however, greatly weakens them, ant
after two or three months tho old bull
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 thei
once powerful antagonists. This phas,
OF seal life is as singular rs any other
for tho new conner does not think O
driving away the pups born under thu
seignorage OF his predecessors, but OF
the contrary takes the place of faithful
guardian to them.
As to the COWS, they are 80 gregarioui
that even when they come in such mum
bers as to be able to make choice they
prefer the best filed harem. They will
not lie quiet away from tho 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 &c
their young, who answer in tho same
manner. and in 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. It 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
it's place.
The females come to maternity at two
years of age, the bachelors at five or
six; and as there are million and half
of these classes who are not admitted to
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 arc
allowed to do this, and 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 of
a 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-
lives, published by the United States
government. The sound arising from
5hese great breeding grounds, he says,
Is where thousands upon thousands of
angry, vigilant bulls are roaring, chuck
ing, piping, and multitudes of seal
mothers are calling in hollow, bla-ating
'ouos W tnelr young, WHICH Ill Curn re-
'pond necessarily, is indescribable. It is,
It slight distance, softened into a deep
booming, as of cataract, and can be
heard a long distance off at sea-uhder
avorable circumstances, as far as five or
'ix miles-and frequently warns vessels
hat may be approaching the islands in
hick weather of the proximity of land"
The value of the seal islands to the
United States government is, by COM
non mode of calculation, as follows {:
Two million seals of suitable age for
,illing, at $2 62}, gives $5,25O,OOO
This amounts to twenty years. taxes, but
axes no account of the annual rent,
which would be 81, 100, 900 more in that
ime. Total value of seal islar DIS alone.
;6, 5000 The other furs which
Alaska sends to our markets bring at
cast one-half the value of the sealskins.