The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-07-13
Migration Of Seals.

Migration Of Seals.
OF the different sorts of Norgh-Atlantic
seals, all but two are migratory-th is
70 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 fisherman depend for their success.
The annual southwark journey of the
restless harp-seal furnishes vivid picture
of these migrations which are so promi-
nent feature of polar history. Keeping
just ahead of the making of ice, or
final freezing up of the fiords and bays,
at the approach of winter they leave
Greenland and begin their passage south
ward along the coast of Labrador, freely
entering all the CULTS and bays. They
appear first in small detachments of
half dozen to q score or more Of indi-
viduals; these are soon followed by larger
companies, until in few days they form
one continuous procession, filing the sea
as far as the eye can reach. Floating
with the Arctic current, their progress is
extremely rapid, and in bit one short
week the whole multitude has passed.
Arriving at the Straits of Belleisle, some
enter the gulf, but the great body move
onward along the eastern coast of New
fepndland, and thence outward to the
Grand Banks. where they arrive about
Christmas. Here they rest for month,
and then thsy turn snorthhTard, slowly
stfnggingl against the strong current
that aided them SO much Ia their south
ward journey. until they reach the great
ice-felds stretching from the Labrador;
shore far eastWa ard q broad continent Of
During the first half of March, on
thousands ofbaby seals---only one in each
family p-bef aure, but with plenty .of,
playfeA dwS close by-all In soft woody
dbesS Whit, or white with q beautiful.
golden luster,. The Observation-Disclosures
call them sswhite-coats. In few
weeks. hewever, 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-like 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 on the ice and go eff 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 IT, you and me
would seem to be precisely alike, and
all are moving about more or less, the
mother never malzesa mistake nor feeds
any bleating baby until she has found
her own. Ii ice happens opack around
them, SO that they canlnot open holes,
nor get into the water, the whole army
will laboriously travel oy laundering
leaps to the edge of the field; and they
show an astonishing saoacity in discern
ing the proper direction. tits supposed
that they can smell the water at a long
distance.
Sometimes great storins come, break
ing the ice-hoes in pieces and iamming
the fragments against one another, or
upon rocky headlands, with tremendous
force. Besides the full.grown seals that
perish in such gales, thousands OF the
weak babies are crushed to death or
drowned, Notwithstanding the dauntless
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 Safe place, "eitherb by trying to swim
with it between her fore flippers, or by
driving it before her and tossing it for
ward with her nose" The destruction
caused by such gales is far less when
they happen after the youngsters have
learned to swim. 4
Does it surprise yo.t that seals, which
are constantly in the water, have to
learn to swimP Well, it might stacccr
the seals to be told that men have To be |
taught tewalk. The fact is, a baby seal
Is afraid of the water; and if some acct
zsaRt, Oh his mother shoulder. pushes
Alln into the surf svllen hesis ten or
dozen days old, he screams with fright |
and scrambles out as East as he can The |
next day he tries it again, butsfinds him |
salf xery awkward ard soon tired; the
third day he does better, and before long |
he can dive and leap, turn sornersaults |
ln he IS bearded seal, and vanish |
under the ice, literally sslike a. blue
streak, !" the instant danger threatens. |
But he had to learn how to begin with
like any other mamrlal. Ernest Inaer-I
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