396 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



The largest of the schooners hare forecastle accommodations for some of the Indians, but the 

 most of them sleep in the hold, where the peculiar odor of the seal-skins and blubber seems to 

 impart a healthy and invigorating influence on these savages, who appear to thrive and grow fat 

 during the season. 



The blubber taken from tlie seals is tried out by the women in the lodges. They cut it into 

 small pieces, which they boil in iron pots and brass kettles. The oil, when cold, is put into various 

 receptacles, generally into large pouches or bottles made from the paunches of seals, sea lions, or 

 the killer (Orca ater Cope), which abounds in Fuca Strait. These paunches are first cleaned, then 

 blown up full of wind, and rolled, and rubbed, and stretched, and again and again blown up till 

 they attain their utmost tension, when they are left to dry, in which condition they retain their 

 shape, and are serviceable in holding oil. 



The cleanest and nicest oil is placed in these paunches, and is used with their food as white 

 people use sweet oil or butter, and when fresh made is no more disagreeable than lard. Oil that 

 gets scorched or dirty, or any surplus oil, is sold to the whites. 



The quantity of seal oil produced this season can only be ascertained by estimate. I think, 

 taking the yearlings, which yield scarcely any. and the very large ones, which yield 1 gallons 

 each, that the average may be set down at 1 quart to each seal, vhich numbered, as may be seen 

 in the statistical tables, 6,268. These would make over 1,500 gallons, most of which is used for 

 food. 



Before the fur-seals became so plenty and the pursuit of them so profitable the Cape Flattery 

 Indians killed many whales, using their oil for food ; but the sealing business now absorbs all 

 their energies, and, although whales are as plenty about the cape as in former years, the Indians 

 have uot killed any for some time. They do not appear to have the views of white men about 

 engaging in different occupations at the same time, but when the season for any kind of work 

 comes round they will devote themselves exclusively to that, leaving other things to come in their 

 course. 



In former years, before the demand for seal-skins became so great, they devoted themselves 

 to capturing whales. Then the halibut season commenced, and after that the salmon. Now, 

 instead of whales, it is seals, and at present (July), the sealing season being over, the whole tribe 

 are busy with the halibut fishery, which in turn will be succeeded by the salmon. 



There have been sis schooners employed during the past season in the seal fishery, from Neah 

 Bay, viz: Schooner Eudora, 73.36 tons, of San Francisco, Nelson T. Oliver, master ; schooner 

 Champion, 42.84 tons, of Port Townsend, E. H. McAlmoud, master ; schooner Teazer, 39 tons, of Port 

 Townsend, James Dalgardno, master; schooner Lottie, 31 tons, of Port Townseud, John Oberg, 

 master; schooner Letitia, 30.66 tons, of Port Towusend, John Cornish, master; schooner Mist, 

 10.99 tons, of Port Townsend, Albert Waite, master. 



Sealing schooner Three Sisters, 65 tons, S. L. Beckwith, master, arrived from San Francisco 

 .on the 14th of April, but proceeded north without attempting to take any seals off the cape. 



On the Vancouver Island side of the strait, and on the west coast of that island, an equal 

 number of English vessels belonging to Victoria, British Columbia, have been engaged during the 

 season in sealing, viz: Schooners Favourite, Onward, Thornton, Anna Beck, Wanderer, and Win- 

 nifred, having about the same aggregate tonnage as the American schooners. 



In the report of Alexander C. Anderson, esq., inspector of fisheries for British Columbia, 

 made to the minister of marine and fisheries, Ottawa, Canada, for 1879, the number of fur-seal 

 skins taken on the coast of British Columbia during that season was 12,500, which averaged $8 

 each, making a total value of $100,000. The price of fur-seal skins having advanced, is estimated 

 by the trader at this place at an average of $9 each for this season's catch. 



