394 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



Island, British Columbia, iu vast herds, and are taken by the Indians of Gape Flattery and the 

 natives of Vancouver Island, on the ocean off the coast, and occasionally in the Strait of Fuca as 

 far inland as the Duugeness Light. 



The great body of these seals keep well out to sea, and during the present year (1880) have 

 been reported by vessels bound iu from China and the Sandwich Islands as having been seen from 

 100 to 300 miles off shore, covering the sea as far as the eye could reach, and looking like vast beds 

 of kelp iu the distance. 



Meteorological causes seem to effect this vast collection, sometimes causing it to keep off from 

 the shore at a great distance, with only a few scattering ones coming near enough to fall victims 

 to the Indian's spear. At other times, and notably the present season, the great herd sways inward 

 toward the land, following the same general movement as may be observed in a school of herring, 

 the center of the school or herd being invariably the most numerous. 



During the voyage of Captain Meares, in 17SS-'S9, as well as those of Portlock, Dixon, Man- 

 hand, and other early voyagers, but little mention is made of seals, as they were then of such 

 small value that in the list of furs and skins which the captains were directed to procure no men- 

 tion is made of them, the sea otter then being the most plentiful, as it was and is at this time the 

 most costly and beautiful of all the furs. 



Black fox-skins were very valuable, as also sable, black beaver, and black martin; but river 

 otter and seals were classed with inferior furs, which the captains were directed to purchase or not 

 as they judged best, but to confine their work to the sea-otter. 



From all the accounts given in the records of those early voyages, as well as from the traditions 

 of the Indians, it seems that a hundred years ago the sea-otter were as numerous in this vicinity 

 ;ind tis readily taken by the Indians as the fur-seal is at the present time. Sea-otters are but 

 rarely taken now, and seem to have abandoned their ancient haunts on the American coast and to 

 have migrated in a body to the northeastern shores of Asia and the islands off the Siberian coast 

 and Japan, where they abound. Their places on the American shores are now taken by the fur- 

 seal, which of late years seem to be steadily on the increase. 



From 1857, the date of the first white settlement at Neah Bay, to 1866, but few seals were 

 taken, they were iu those years very scarce, and it is only since 1866 that they have been known 

 to resort to the vicinity of Fuca Strait in such large numbers. 



The majority of the seals killed by the Makahs, or Cape Flattery Indians, at the commencement 

 of the season are females and yearling pups; the older males appear to keep well out to sea and 

 are seldom taken near the shore until toward the close of the season. 



The female seals killed by the Indians invariably have foetuses in them in various stages of 

 development, according to the mouth when taken.* 



I procured of an Indian two foetal seal pups on the 20th of May last, which I selected from a 

 lot the Indian was skinning ; they were far enough advanced to be skinned, although their pelts 

 \\ere worthless for trade. These two specimens I gave to Professor Jordan, who has them among 

 the collection he made at 5s"eah Bay. 



The time the fur-seals make their appearance in the vicinity of Cape Flattery varies; generally 

 they do not appear before the 1st of March, but this season the first were taken on the 18th day 



* Mr. Swan thinks it possible that the seals bring forth their young iu the ocean, and says that many of the 

 sealers agree with that opinion. Mr. H. W. Elliott, however, feels certain that it would be impossible for the new- 

 born seals to live in the ocean, and thinks that no seals at Cape Flattery are so far advanced in pregnancy as to be 

 unable to reach the Pribylov Islands before the pups are born. A. HOWARD CLARK. 



