The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1893-06-09

these males together with the
yearling females take up their
abode by themselves on what
are known as the hauling
grounds" quite apart from the
rookeries, or breeding places.
none Of the young males are al
lowed by their elders to come up
on the rookeries until they are
fully matured, and not even then,
except they are able to overcome
in single combat some old bull,
whose powers have been weak
ened by age. They must conquer
their places, and with all alike,
old and young, the warfare of the
rookeries means the survival of
the fittest.
For about four months the
seal is nursed, receiving nothing
but its mothers milk, which it
takes once every two or three days,
and remains wholly on the land.
The young seal cannot swim, and
if thrown into the water would
drown-a strong confirmation of
the fact that it is by nature a land
! animal. 1t begins to play in the
surf when about two months old,
and at the end of four months it
has progressed sufficiently to seek
its own food, but for considerable
time it remains q clumsy swim
mer.
| Except the full grown bulls
| (which can go long time without
food) and the nursing young, all
the seals feed in the sea during
their residence on land. 1t is a
perpetual coming and going.
How far they go is not definitely
known; but as they can, after a
year or two, swim from ten to
twelve miles an hour, and as the
mother seal is often away from one
to two days, it is certain that they
, swim off as far as hundred miles
! in search of food. Compelled to
! find food not only for themselves
/ but for their nursing young, the
|, mothers 60 into the sea far oftener
! than the other seals. and are.
!, therefore, most exposed to the
f attacks of poachers.
: The seal-lookeries on the
/ Pribyloff Islands are the largest in
the world. Here the business OF
+ breeding, raising, selecting the
! male seals for slaughter at the age
, and season when the fur is most
! valuable: of curing, preserving,
! shipping, and marketing the skins,
! has been carried on for nearly
3 ninety years, This government,
soon after acquiring possession
assumed, by an express statute,
! the control and conduct Of the
business-the treasury depart
: ment being empowered to pre-
scribe the number, age and sex Of
the seals that may be slaughtered
- At the annual roundup, which
: lasts from June to October, th,
!. young males of from two to fv'
: years, which are still immature
I, for breeding purposes, and hence
known as batchelors, are selected
= for slaughter. At this age theil
= fur is at its best, and brings tn
! highest price in the market
! During part of the months 0
= August and September, however
: y the fur temporarily deteriorates
g g and no seals are slaughtered.
!, No females are allowed to b
" killed upon the islands. All ar
: preserved for the increase of th
y herd, for it is upon them that th
:. : increase mainly depends. TIL
: cow bears but one calf yea
- - while bull, as a rule, serves a
:: many as fifteen COWS in a season
= and may serve as manyas twent,
- or thirty. The killing of one fe
male means the cutting off of on
m young seal a year from the natura
IN increase of the herd during tn
re natural term Of the mothers life
r while the killing of fourteen {
~ fifteen males would involve n
le diminution of the annual increas,
re The seals selected for slaughte
q are killed in the open field wit
g clubs, and the thousands of thei
70 companions in the immediat
sy presence of whom the KILN
Y is done make no effort TO rp
~ away. The United States coult
In thus, in a single season, destro
lg everyone of the seals on tn
lg islands.
O. The industry, as conducted b,
az the government, Is scource I
great profit, Its successful pros
he ecution requires large capital an
lie great energy and skill. If IL
Ike seal herds can be preserved f
tn the next century under the col
"a, ditions that existed down to 1873!
'se it is a low estimate to place I'll
st. value of these two islands at thirt
of millions of dollars. With ii
IN. seal exterminated, they are Of |
.ce value whatever,