Newport daily independent., 1913-11-19


 scrutinizing. penetrating eye of modern science. but the se-
 cret held alone by the seal family Is a mystery that has baked scientists, provided material for the poets pen and mockingly lured ad- venturers on thrilling quests to the middle of the Pacific ocean.
 Where do the seals and sea lions go? The mystery which in the palmy days of the sealing industry in the far north cost the old Alaska Con- mercial company thousands of dol lars-is seemingly beyond solution.
 From California to Behring sea- in a few weeks the seal family will again quietly slip into the sea, and, leaving only few stragglers will disappear into the depths of the ocean, probably to migrate to some far away place.
 They will disappear as completely as though swallowed up by the sea, only to reappear again late in Feb ruary or early in March, when the an- nual breeding season begins. Where the seals go during the winter can
 
 lists who have followed the course of sea lions migrating from California points, there is little question of their first destination. It is said that they join the great herds in Behring sea. Whether the same animals which leave the Cliff Seal Rocks at San Francisco in the fall come back again l. ,hnth thnr hni rlla a n n are taken by others is very uncer- tain.
 Sea lions have always inhabited the Seal Rocks, it is said. On account Of the peculiar climate surrounding the Golden Gate, it is seldom that there are not sea lions there. However, 1t is only the bachelor" sea lion which will be seen by sightseers who go to the cliff two months hence.
 Followed by Investigators.
 In 1886, before the period of pelagic hunting or shooting of seals at sea was practiced, the Alaska Commercial company, which was the first lessee of the Pribylov islands in Behring sea. attempted to trace the seals on the migratory course. Expeditions were outfitted and when the migration from the islands began about Novem- Der 1, 1886, the investigators at tempted to follow and learn definitely where the seals spent their winter. For several hundred miles the animals in great herds from the rookeries were followed But one day, as though by magic the larger portion of the herd suddenly disappeared, In another few days there was not an animal to be seen. All were somewhere? No body Knows.
 It was apparent that the seals had taken to the bottom of the ocean, that they. evidently, went far below some warm current Some say the seals i'm mediately began to proceed back northward under water. Seals ordi narily swim for distances of two ol three milea before shoWi' v their noses above water for air. heory that the animals swan seVt.4l hundred miles under water has been contra dicted, inasmuch as no mammal is known to be capable of staying under water so long without a supply oi fresh air.
 kipling is only one of various writ CTS who wrote of the periodical dis appearance of the seal family, The surcness with which the animal. divine their course of travel has oftor been q favorite theme. Seals and sea lions make long journeys of many thousand miles and never go astray During the spring and summer month! these strange animals live on land making the rocked slopes of islands thoir abodes. Then when Novembel comes they slip into the sea and dis appear, feeding upon fish. Fur seal! are more strange in their migration' than are the hair" seals, but the, too leave their summer abodes ant take to the waters of temperate o tropical ocean.
 Consume Millions of Fish.
 While the seal family is away iron ste I,hitat many millions of fish ar,