The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-20
THE BIRTH OF SEALS.
Professor Elliott Replies to
Judge James G.. Swan.
PUPS NOT BORN IN THE WATER.
The Baby Would Sink Like Stone
How the Young Animals Learn 20
Swim at the PribiIof Rookertes.


bird always autters, etc He does not
reply to my charge. l said in iS72-14 that
the fur-seal does not give birth 20 It's
young in the open waters of the Pacific
ocean or Bering sea- and that the fur-seal
of the Pacific ocean was the same animal
as that of Rering sea, and gave my
reasons for thus declaring in the following
language: Monograph o4t the Sal TsEGfsds Of
AlaskG, PIP. le6-i67. Washington City, ISL
RECENT ERRONEOUS STATEMENTS IN REGARD 10
PELA6Ic Birth or FUR SEALS
Aiken Tin his History Of North Asser6sn piant.
PETS, PIP. IT'S quotes 3 writer, who declares
TIA. any statement that the faT~seal breeds alone
on the lribllof islands TO the exclusion 81 mn
other grounds on the northwest coast of America
ana Alaska, Is ''pTepoSteEous 20 his mind This
author claims 70 know BY his eown personal
Observation that the inr-seal does have pups
IN opea ocean OF The entrance 10 Fuca straits
V1 tle contrary. assert that it is physical i'm
possibility Tor the CGlieF61,as IL bring forth its
young alive 10 the water; the pup would sink
like stone instantly after birth, aud the mother
De wholly helpless TO save il.
should rot heed this statement of Mr. Swan.
REINFORCED by that of an old sailor. so grayely
entered by Allen, were il not for his iutroduc-
ton on the following page (77Sl OF sn innocent
announcement OF fact by Professor o. :. Jordan.
who by this IS unfortunately inside TO appear in
the light OF sustaining the idle theory OF pelagie
birth, lordans simple declaration that he had
seen Five tur-seal pup Hume l. 1891 at Cane
Eiattery, taken from an old seal just killed.
Saowfng that the time of bringing forth was
Just at hand, Is correct as far as 10 goes: but
remember. that this pup had been alive in its
mothers womb for eleven months prior 60 tho
dag Jordan saw il; aud ten days or three weeks
later at the longest this parent. IL uudisturhed.
would have naturally brought il forth ia the
fullness OF time on either - Paul or ST. George,
OF the Prfollof group. She could have made the
Journey there m six or seven days easily from
Fuca straits, ii she had been pressed to do so By
the expiration OF her period OF CESSATION.
Nat live p ,f.~1.
Allen. no matter how able. Will be deceived now
and then IN this manner, by untrustworthy
statements made BY those who are supposed To
know by personal observation what they affirm.
Mr.. swan has passed nearly an average lifetime
on the northwest coast. chiefly III the waters OF
Washington territory. and has rendered to nat
uFal Seie2cs aud TO ethnoi0gy efficient and val
liable service by his labor in collecting and his
notes in regard to the Makah Indians of Cape
Flsttery; hence his erroneous statements above
referred to (as TO the fur-seaN had primo ftcie
weight with Allen, who, therefore. inserted
them. and thus gave the romance an appearance
Of reality, which cannot pass by in silence.
The other, though hesitating authority
Charles Bryant, is old mariner, who has also
been well situated by yirtae of eight years res
iGenee on st. Paul's island; he ought 10 know
better.
Now, waving all matters of a personal
nature, in whi0h | never indulge, and my
card in Forest and Stream. which YOU pup
ished, bears witness, Mr.. Swan. in this
fur seals bring forth their young at sea
/ said, and say, no; and give my reasons
IN full in this monograph, above cited.
YOUNG SEALS LEARNING TO SWIM.
Early in August, usually by the sth or 10th. I
noticed one of the remarkable movements of the
season. l refer TO the pups first essay in swim
ming. Is 1t not -parsdoNical-that the
young seal, from the moment of his birth until
he Is month or six weeks old, is utterly unable
IN ITvsa III hsaf IL fYo1
neck and pitched out 81 rod into the water from
shore, his bulletiikc head will drop instantly
below the surface, and his attenuated postsrior
extremitles Hap tmpotently on it; suffocation Is
the question OF only few minutes, the
stupid little creature not knowing how
10 raise his immersed head and gain
the sir again. After they have attained the age
indicated, their instinct drives them down to
the margin OF the surf. where alternate ebbng
and flowing oil its wash covers and uReovers the
rpesy or sandy beaches. They nrst smell and
then touch the moist pools. and founder in the
upper wash OF the surf, which leaves them as
suddenly high and dry as it immersed them at
first After this beginning they make slow and
clumsy progress in learning the ku8ck of
swimming. For week or two, when overhead
in depth. they continue 10 founder about in the
most awkward manner. thrashing the water as
little dogs do, with their fore feet, making no
attempt whatever 10 use their hinder ones. Look
at that pup now, launched ont for the fiFst time
beyond his depth: see how he struggles-his
mouth wide open, and his eyes fairly popping
He turns instantly 10 the beaeh. ere he has
fairly struck out from the point whence be
launched in. and, as the reeeding swell which
at first carried him off his feet and out, now re-
turning, leaves him high and dry, for few
minutes he seems SO weary that be weakly
erswls up, out beyond its swift returning wash,
and coils himself up Immediately to take re-
operative nap. He sleeps few minutes perhaps
bali an hour, then wakes as bright as a dollar.
apparently rested, AMI at his swimming lesson
he goes again BY repeated and persistent at
tcmnts the young seal gradually becomes IA
initiar with the water and acquainted with his
zt- -
real home and his whole support Once boldly
| swimming. the pup fairly reyels in his new hap
| piness- He and his brethren have now begun TO
haul and swarm along the whole length Of -.
Paul coast. from Northeast point down sud
around 20 Zapadnie, lining the alternating sand
| beaches ana rocky Shingle with their plump,
| black forms. How they delight iii IL. They
play with a zeSt. and enatter like our own chill
/ dreu in the kindergartens-swi swimming in endless
/ eyoluttous, twisting, turning or dlying-and
when exhausted draw their giump. round bodies
/ up again on the beach. shaking themselves dry
/ as young dogs would do, they now either go to
sleep the spot or have lazy terrestrial frolie
among themselves
How an erroneous impression ever got into
[ the mind OF any man in this matter OF the pup
/ learning 70 swim, confess that am wholly
unable 10 imagine. have not seen any ''dTiv-
/ ing OF the voting pups into the water BY the
old ones IN order 70 teach them this process us
| certain authors have positively affirmed. There
/ IS not the slightest supervision by the old
mother or father of the pup, from the first
moment OF his birth, in this respect. until he
( leaves for the North Paeihc, tuil.fiedged with
amphibtous power. At the close Of the breed
/ ing season every year the pups are restieSsiy.
| and constantly shifting back and forth over the
/ rookery ground OF their birth. IN large squads.
sometimes numbering thousands upon thou
! sands. In the course OF this change OF position
1 they all sooner or later come in contact
| with the sea; they then bluuder into the
water for the fist time in q most aw kwsrd.
! unganly manner, and get out rs quick as they
can: bur so Tar from showing any fear or dislike
/ al this. their most natural element, soon as
7 sAas- ErrH. aras
nediateiy ready for ffew trial, and keep 81 u,
provided the sea Is not too stormy or rough.
During al this period OF selftuition they seem
/ thoroughly 10 enjoy the exercise, IL spite OF
| their repcstea and inevitable diseomttares az
1 the beginning.
| If the fur seal does give birth 10 It's
| young in the open waters of Berins sea or
/ the North Pacific. OF the Straits of Faca.
/ why does Mr.. Swan evade giving the proof
/ OF that fact in this long letter loaded with
I Falstaflian personalities aimed Ak myself
/ Pup seals cut by ghe sealers from mothers
/ -womlpmoiSt-m struggle and do
/ sulatter in the sea for a few minutes
/ naturally they would but they are not born
there: they are born, if naturally. on the
+ Pribilof islands Of Alaska. That Is what
/ said in 1s-2-SI. and repeat today on the
/ strength OF Mr.. Swans own Witnesses
/ How easy il is for men 10 hiunder and
bIunder honestly; but an error chung TO is
nor established by any means, and is
/ author ceases to carry weight or meet with
/ the recognition Of gentlemen when he
| 9eseends 10 the use of the language OF
fishing drabs. HESzY ". EIIIoTr.
fsvoa are nervous or dyspeptie Try tagter's
| Little Nerve fills. Dyspepsia makes you nerE-
ot.s and nervousness makes you dssfssfftir
asser f,r,a -ete-S xf,s. miserable and these liz