94 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



fully observe in what place, and, approximately, in what numbers, the 

 seals have gathered ; aud then elect as their chief the most experien- 

 ced and skillful among them. They approach the rookery in boats, 

 either at dusk or during the night, always goiug against the wind, to 

 conceal their approach. 



After their arrival on shore, the hunters disembark noiselessly, form 

 a Hue in order to cut off the retreat of the seals, and thus, creeping, 

 advance quite near to the herd, which is sleeping and suspects no danger. 

 On a signal from the chief, the hunters all rise at once and pitilessly 

 attack their unfortunate victims, killing them by a single blow on the 

 snout with the club. The bodies are piled up by means of gaffs, and 

 after a few minutes form a rampart, depriving the survivors of every 

 chance of regaining the sea. The seals howl, groan, bite, and defend 

 themselves; but the hunters, eager for gain, go on killing them without 

 mercy, and soon the whole herd is massacred. It is no infrequent 

 occurrence to see 15,000 dead seals cover the battle-field of a single 

 night. 



After the killing, the dressing of the seals commences, usually about 

 daybreak. 



The head is cut off, the belly is opened, and the skin is taken off with 

 the thick layer of fat adhering to it. These skins are piled up on the 

 boats, which take them to large sailing-vessels, anchored some "versts" 

 from the shore, on which they are heaped up, each layer being covered 

 with salt. These vessels sail with their cargo to Astrachan, while the 

 hunters return to the coast to carefully clean the battle-field. They 

 bury the bodies and entrails, at some distance, deep in the ground, or 

 throw them into the sea, far from the shore, and carefully obliterate 

 every trace of blood, so that, when another herd of seals arrives, these 

 animals do not see any marks of the slaughter which has taken place; 

 for experience has shown that they never select for their rookery a 

 place from which every trace of the slaughter has not been carefully 

 removed. 



Two hundred seal-hunters, employed by wealthy merchants or fish- 

 ermen, usually winter on the island of Koulali. Numerous boats, be- 

 sides, go there every year to participate in the chase. The masters of 

 these boats secure permits from the fishing-authorities and give them 

 to their workmen, who receive their wages in money. The pilot gener- 

 ally gets from 175 to 300 " roubles," ($122.50 to $210 gold,) and the 

 workmen from 85 to 125 " roubles," ($59.50 to $87.50 gold.) They are fed 

 at the expense of the master. 



Another way of hunting the seals is to take them with nets. Im- 

 mense nets are stretched out, into which the hunters endeavor to 

 chase them by yelling and making a noise. This way of hunting is 

 chiefly employed in the maritime district of the Ural Cossacks and in 

 the Gulf of Sineye Mortso, from October till the sea is covered with ice. 



