The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1894-02-15
SEALS and THEIR HABITS
Dr.. WilSus's Very Interesting Doscrip-
ton Of This Coy Creature.
BLOODY BATTLES and WHY FOUGHT.
The Gentleman Seal aud His Gal.
tnntry-The Lady Seal aud Her
Modest Msnaers-The Mother ana
Her Yeung-Their migrations.

Written for THE HKRALp.
l promised you in my last letter to tell
Tou something more about seals. Our
indians have gotten their schooners ready
ind when the weather permits they make
'hort excursions TO the ocean, few miles
beyond Tatoosh island Here they inter.
,ept the seals which are making their
way northward to the PribiIow islands for
breeding purposes. Last week In three
days our Indians took lis seals. These
skins are worth si200--pretty good pay
for three days work. The season lasts
only about six weeks. however, for about
the LIST Of May the advance guard OF male
seals arrives at Pribilow islands. At first
they swim shyly around as II doubtful
about landing. A month later they come
by the thousands, and then ensues the
fight for position on the rocky shores Of
the islands. The first corners fight those
that come next, the object being to keep
q place on the water line. To do this
successfully, no small amount Of prowess
is necessary. The holder OF such posi-
tion can only keep his place by fighting
in turn every new conner. 1t Is no I'M
usual thing for bull seal to be obliged
to fight fifty battles before establishing
permanently his claim to front seat on
the beach. As l told you in my last
letter, the seal is very affectionate
animal when taken young and tanned.
Yet in these combats they are more fero-
cious than Corbet. But, having no fists,
they use their teeth, and the wounds thus
inflicted are often dreadful and become
aggravated by the sand that blows into
them. They show the human side Of
their nature by gathering these injured
brethren into groups, called by the natives
hospitals. Here they are treated until
they die or recover, as the case may be.
Doubtless you wonder why the front seats
are so desirable. Let me tell you. A
few days after the male seals arrive the
females begin TO put in their appearance.
They do not come TO join the males.
Doubtless they would avoid landing were
1t not for the fact that they have to land
for the purpose OF bringing forth their
young. Often the bull seals are very I'M
ceremonious in welcoming the gentier
SON. When n female arrives rha Ia
pr ,mptly seized by the neck by the most
favorablv situated bull seal and deposited
on the rocks near him. This little cere-
mony is not considered just the thing by
the other gentlemen in the neighborhood
and fight is declared on, often OF the
most bloody character, during which the
poor female 10 jerked around in most
painful manner, though, like most
women, she is SO amiable she utters no
protest whatever. The gentlemen who
fail to sc cure seats in the dress circle con-
tent themselves with such females as they
can get in the general scrimmage on the
outside. Often the champion bull seal
will have fifty wives. suspect they be-
lieve in polygamy. As soon as the female
gets settled down in quietude she gives
birth TO her baby. II wei chs about four
pounds and is Of Jet black color. Not until
they are month old do they try to learn
to swim and it takes many lessons before
they feel at home in the water. The
mother frequently goes out to sea to get
food for her young and it is very remark
able that when she returns aud bleats for
her young one the cry is answered by her
own baby and 1t is recognized from
among the thousands that utter exactly
similar cries. The mothers suckle or
feel their children until the middle Of
October. When their dark jacket be-
comes gray they are then told 10 root,
seal, or die" The islands are soon de-
serted. The old people todde away into
the depths and nothing is seen of them
until the following spring.
l guess l have written enough about
seals--for this time at least. presume
this will be my last letter from Neah Bay.
have been among these people for about
seven months. / have found them kind
aud obiging. The little Indian school at
Bahada Point is model in its way. The
children look we'll, dress well, and learn
well.
Quite number of the Indians and
white employees, having heard was soon
to leave them, gave me surprise party
on Wednesday evening, February Z. They
brought music, so fixed up large room
aud let them dance few hours. Then
We had our regular social ON Thursday
evening in remembrance of the day when
Senator DAVIS bill became law, giving
Indians the right to vote and hold prop
erty.
II nothing happens will pack my grip
and start for North Yakima early next
week. | am happy indeed to get to the
place, to me dearer than any other place
in the world home. No wonder the few
lines, written by Howard Payne, "Be it
ever so humble, there is no place like
home" touch a chord in all human
hearts. l certainly am very glad to get
to my humble come. But l have re-
ceiyed nothing but kindness from both
Indians and whites since | came here
and will always have warm place in
my heart for Neah Bay and its little
handful OF people.
ALBERT WILaUs, Nj. ID.
Neah gay, Feb. Q.
Joseph V. Dory, of Warsaw, ILL.,, was