The sea coast echo., 1913-12-06
\ NATURES innermost secrets
n seldom long endure under the
~ scrutinizing, penetrating eye
N of modern science, but the Sc


il n of modern science, but the Sc
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 Com
mercial company thousands of doh
lars-is seemingly beyond solution.
From California to Behring sea, in
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
only be theorized. According to scien-
lists who have followed the course of
sea lions migrating from California
points, there is little question of their
first destination. 1t 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
in the spring or whether their places
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,
it 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-
ber /, 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 'gone-where? No
body knows.
1t 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 or
three miles before showing their noses
above water for air The theory that
the animals swan several 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 of
fresh air.
Kipling is only one of various writ
ers who wrote of the periodical dis
appearance of the seal family. The
sureness with which the animals
divine their course of travel has often
been a favorite theme. Seals and sea
lions make long journeys of many