ALASKA. 147 



than as steering inedimns. The propelling motion, if they have 

 any, is so rapid, that my eye is not quick enough to catch it; 

 the lore leet, however, can be very distinctly seen to work, 

 feathering forward and sweeping back flatly, opposed to the 

 water, with great rapidity and energy, and are evidently the 

 sole i)ropulsive i)ower. 



All their movements in the water, when in traveling or sport, 

 are quick and joyous, and nothing is more suggestive of intense 

 satisfaction and great comfort than is the spectacle of a few 

 thousand old bulls and cows, off and from a rookery in August, 

 idly rolling over, side by side, rubbing and scratching with 

 the fore and hind flippers, which are here and there stuck up 

 out of the water like lateen-sails, or ''cato'-nine tails,'' in either 

 case, as it may be. 



When the '' hoUuschukie" are up on land they can be readily 

 separated into two classes by the color of their coats and size, 

 viz, the yearlings, and the two, three, four, and live year old 

 bulls. 



The first class is dressed just as they were after they shed 

 their pup-coats and took on the second the previous year, in 

 September and October, and now, as they come out in the 

 spring and summer, the males and females cannot be distin- 

 guished apart, either by color or size; both yearling sexes 

 having the same gray backs and white bellies, and are the 

 same in behavior, action, weight, and shape. 



About the 15th and 20th of August they begin to grow 

 *' stagey," or shed, in common with all the other classes, the 

 pups excepted. The over-hair requires about six weeks from 

 the commencement of the dropping or falling out of the old 

 to its full renewal. 



The pelage, or fur, which is concealed externally by the hair, 

 is also shed, and renewed slowly in the same manner; but, 

 being so much finer than the hair, it is not so api)arent. It was 

 to me a great surprise to " learn," from a man who has been 

 heading a seal-killing party on these islands during the past 

 three years, and the Government agent in charge of these in- 

 terests, that the seal never shed its fur; that the over-hair only 

 was cast off and replaced. To prove that it does, however, is a 

 very simple matter, and does not require the aid of a micro- 

 scope. For example, take up a i)rime spring or fall skin, after 

 every single over-hair on it has been plucked out, and you will 

 have difficulty, either to so blow upon the thick, fine lur, or 



