The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1882-09-14
Migration Of Seals,

seals, all but two are migratory-that is
to say, the whole body of them move
from north to south each autumn, and
back from south to north each spring.
Upon this important fact the great fleets
OF fishermen depend for their success.
The annual southwark journey of the
restless harp-seal furnishes vivid pic
ture OF these great N igrations which are
SO prominent O feature of polar history.
Keeping just ahead of the "maling'' of
the ice, or final freezing up of the fords
ana pays, at the approach of winter
they leave Greenland, and begin their
passage southwark along the coast Of
Labrador, freely entering all the gulfs
and bays. They appear first in small
detachments OF half dozen to q score
or more of individuals these are soon
!ollowed by larger companies, until in o
lew days they form one continuous pro-
cesslon, filling the sea as far as the eve
can reach. Floating with the Arctic
current, their progress is extremely
rapid, and in but one short week the
whole multitude has passed. Arriving
at the Straits of Belleisle, some enter
the gulf, but the great body move on
ward along the eastern coast of New
toundland, and thence outward to the
Grand Banks, where they arrive about
Christmas. Here they rest for month
and then they turn northward, slowly
struggling against the strong current
that aided them SO much in their south
ward journey, until they reach the great
ice fields stretching from the Labrador
shore far eastward-a broad continent
of ice.
During the first half Of March, on
these great floating fields of ice, are
born thousands of baby seals-Onlv one
IN each family, to be sure, but with
plenty of play-fellows close by-all in
soft woolly dress, white, or white with O
beautiful golden luster. The New
toundlanders call them "white coats"
In few weeks, however, they lose this
soft covering, and q gray, coarse fur
takes its place. In this uniform they
bear the name of ''ragged jackets :" and
it is not until two or three years later
that the full colors of the adult are
gained, with the black crescentic or
harp-llke marks on the back which give
them the name of "harps."
The squealing and barking at one of
these immense nurseries can be heard
for very long distance. When the
babies are very young, the mothers leave
them OH the ice and go off in search of
food, coming back frequently to look
after the little ones and although there
are thousands of the small, white, squeal-
ing creatures, which to you and me
would seem precisely alike, and all are
moving about more or less, the mother
never makes o mistake nor feeds any
bleating baby until she has found her
own. If ice happens to pack around
them, so that they can not open holes.
nor get into the water, the whole army
will laborlously travel by foundering
leaps to the edge of the field and they
show an astounding sagacity in discern
ing the proper direction. It is supposed
that they can smell the water ut long
distance.
Sometimes great storms come, break
ing the ice foes in pieces and iamming
the fragments against one another, or
upon the rocky headlands, with tre-
mendous force. Besides the full-grown
seals that perish in such gales. thousands
OF the weak babies are crushed to death
or drowned, notwithstanding the daunt-
less courage OF their mothers, in trying
to get their young out of danger and
upon the firm ice And it is touching to
watch mother seal struggling to get her
baby to a safe place, "either by tryinp
to swim with it between her fore flippers.
or by driving it before her and tossing
it tforward with her nose" The destruc-
ton caused by such gales is far less
when they happen after the youngsters
have learned to swim.
Does it surprise you that seals, which
are constantly in the water, have to
tedrn to swim ? Well, it might stagger
the seals to be told that men have to be
| taught to walk. The fact is. n baby
seal is afraid of the water; and if some
accident, or his mothers shoulder.
! pushes him into the surf when he is tea
ora dozen days old, he screams with fright
and scrambles out rs fast as he can. The
next day he tries it again, but finds him.
self very awkward and soon tired: the
third day he does better, and before long
he can dive and leap, turn somersaults
Gf he is q bearded seaD, and vanish
under the ice, literally "like n blue
streak" the instant danger threatens.
But he had to learn how, to begin with.
like any other animal. al.-Er7eeSt In0er8oU
IN ST. Nicholas.
Two children, named George and
Harriet Grindley, aged eight and nine
! years, reached Philadelphia the other
day, having travelled alone from Man
chester, England. Their mother is n
widow, living in Philadelphia. and has
been in this country three years. When
she left old England the children were
placed in the Chesterfield Industrial
School, at Manchester, where they re-
NAMED until sent for by their mother.
Tags were sewed to their clothing stat
ing that they were TO be forwarded by,
the National Steamship line from Man
chester, and giving the destination of
the little Travellers They were intrusted
to the care of the steamship officers,
their passage being paid for on this side.
The children arrived by the steamer
Spain sound and bright PbiLnleZDhin