Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1922-02-09
THE STORY OF THE SEAL.

and ulySeI, III No'P'
r.. men. leased an old ship and sail
so- ,he far North on seal hunting
expedition.
A. Won probably know, the Pribilof
LANDS a small group lying about two
sm,.red miles off the coast of Alaska,
-. known as the home of the seals.
W. arrived on these islands very
.,-ly in the spring, when scarcely any
s.sls were there.
VIII, the seals leave these islands
.,,h fall. returning in the spring, is a
.,,.,,ery 10 scientists, unless it is that
.bs,. return to their homes for mating.
:. i claimed that the mother seals
] ;,bshit the very same homes each
8 .,ring. During the month of May the
8 .,,'s begin TO appear, the males, or
! ,u,Is as they are called, come first
and these, like the females, or cows
b,ye favored places which they seize
Zach wear, fighting 10 the death any
intruder.
sea bull is a large, ugly creature
a weighing as much as four hundred
mounds. He is master of his house
hold Several weeks after the bulls
have arrived the females, or cows,
come. These are graceful, gentle
creatures, weighing as rule not more
( thar one hundred pounds.
Each bull gathers about him as many
females as he can, sometimes as many
As hundred, and over these he exer-
*cses the stricteSt authority. Other
bulls, great many times, will try to
steal some of the cows, and then a
great fight takes place. Hundreds Of
Females are torn no pieces every year
By these contending males, and the
focks echo with their roaring.
seal on land is very awkward, but
IN the water it is graceful and beau.
aiful. 1t has a tapering body, with
Thick, woolly fur, and long shining
hair, and is so oily 1t glides easily
through the water, its iin-like feet serv-
he as a paddle and ruider. The
eals are especially fond Of small fish,
fhich are their principal diet. 1t is
[ery amusing TO watch their quick,
Frting movements in the water, diving
tier their meals.
The seal has tail, but It is so very
port as to be practically useless. The
nos also are short, the greater part
their length being hidden beneath
sin. The head is small, but they
we a very large mouth and, like a
f. are provided with feelers.
Soon after the females have arrived,
z are comfortably situated in their
mes again, the little seals or pup
IS are born. These are sleek,
lIrmy little animals, weighing from
to eight pounds. and are as playful
kittens.
We spent much time sitting along
shore, watching the puppies play
the rocks. A few days after the
py seals have arrived, the mother
res them and goes out in the sea
search of food. The little seals
lett IN group, perhaps a hundred
'hem together, with nothing to
ineulsh one from another, but the
her on her return after several
S absence picks out her own baby
no difficulty. Whether or not the
neF seal has any affection for her
ng is yet unSolved.
IS very amusing to watch a group
'oung seals learning to swim. The
seals take their first swimming
'nS "hen about six weeks Of age,
II SENS as though it is not mat
'oT mem to swim as it is with a
6 duck, for their heads are so very
ana their bodies SO tight that
nave very hard time keeping
PIP OF the water.
"'S are so innocent booking
i'aFrn ess it seems cruel indeed to
sea- hunters slip up the rocks
large clubs in hand ready to kill
himalS for their furs.
young males are the ones that
MAKE up the fine sealskin coats
you see in the stores. AS
al, are females, and as one male has
'l"oh over perhaps a hundred
eS' IT is not necessary that so
males be retained. The seals
ways Killed with clubs, as there
fng. ''' III ny
'''e Tine | was on the islands the