The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-06-22
Migration or Seals.

OF the different sorts of North Atlantic
seals, all but two are migratory-thati is
to say, tho 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, of which shall give an ac-
count presently, depend for their sue
cess. The annual southwark journey Cf
the restless harp-seal furnishes vivid
picture of these great migrations which
are SO prominent feature Of polar his
tory. Keeping just ahead of the
making" of the ice, or final freezing up
of the fords and bays, at the approach OF
winter they leave Greenland, and begin
their passage southwark along the coast
Of Labrador, freely entering all the
CULTS and bays. They appear first in
small detachments of half q dozen to a
score or more of individuals; 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 but 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 Newfoundland,
and thence outward to the Grand Banks,
where they arrive about Christmas.
Here they rest for q month, and then
they turn northward, slowly struggling
against the strong current that aided
them SO much in their southwark Jour-
ney, until they reach the great ice-fields
stretching from the Labrador shore far
eastward broad continent of ice.
During the first half of March, on
these great floating fields of ice, are
in each family, to be sure, but with plen-
woolly dress, white, with beau
them "white coats" In q few weeks,
however, they lose this soft covering,
and gray, coarse covering takes its
place. In this uniform they bear the
name of "ragged-jackets," and it is moi
until two or three years later that the
full colors of the adult are gained, with
the black crescentic or harp-like merks
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 ba-
bies are very young the mothers leave
them on the ice and search for food, COM
ing back frequently to look after the lit
tie ones; and, although there are thous-
ands OF the small, white, squealing crea-
lures. which would seem to you and me
to be precisely alike, and all are moving
about more or less, the mother never
makes q mistake nor feeds any bleating
baby until she has found her
own. If ice happens to pack around
them, SO that they cannot open holes,
nor get into the water, the whole army
will laboriously travel by foundering
leaps to the edge of the field; and they
show an astonishing sagacity in discern.
ing the proper direction. It is sup.
posed that they can smell the water ct q
long distance.
Sometimes great storms come, break
ing the ice-foes in pieces and jammine
the fragments against one another, OF
upon rocky headlands. with tremendou.
force. Besides the full-grown seals that
perish in such gales, thousands of the
weak babies are crushed to death oil
dro Sned, Notwithstanding the dauntless
courage Of their mothers, in trying tc
get their young out Of danger and upon
the arm Joe. And it is touching to watch
mother-seal struggling to get her baby
to safe place, ''either trying to swim
with il between her fore hippers, or by
driving IL before her and tossing il for.
ward with her nose" The destruction
caused by such gales Is far less when
they happen after the youngsters have
learned TO swim.
Doesit surprise you that seals, which
are constantly in the water, have TO learn
how to swim? Well, IL might stAgger
the seals 10 be told that men have to b
taught n walk. The fact is, . baby seal
u AFRAID OF the water; and IL some acci-
dent, OF his mothers shoulder, pushsa
him into the surf when he u tan or do
zen days old, he screams with fright
end scrambles ont - last - he can. The
next day he triss II again. but he flnda
himself awkward and soon tired; the
third day b. does better, and before long
b. can dive and leap, turn somersaultl
III he u bearded seal), and vanish nm
der Ne ies) litseally like . blue streak, '
he instant danger thrsatsns. But hi
bad 10 loasn how, 70 begin with, like any
othoR memual-fErom 'sGoals and 6eal
~ n ~ North Atlantic" by Ernes
lnoeesol1. = b. Nicholas, for June.
"A lady subeorlber" asls vhy Paril
il uouoRo ~ "A wfnknA Va IA ~ hnnu