58 ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



From the above table it will be seen that the weights with the dif- 

 ferent ages vary as in the case with other animals. A poor 3-year-old 

 will not weigh much if any more than a 2-year-old in good condition, 

 nor is the difference in their size very perceptible. 



To ascertain the age of a 2 and 3 year old is by no means an easy 

 matter, as we have no means of determining, except by the size, and 

 there is very little difference in them at these ages. A keen eye only, 

 with long practice, can overcome this difficulty. When 4 years old and 

 upward the mane on the back of the neck commences to grow, until 

 the animal is 9 or 10 years old. After that period I have found it 

 utterly impossible to determine their age with any degree of accuracy. 



NUMBER OF SEALS. 



In regard to the number of seals that annually frequent this island, 

 I would state that a survey of the different rookeries was made in 1873 

 by Assistant Treasury Agent H. W. Elliott. Allowing 2 S(|uare feet 

 for each seal and counting all classes, he estimates the total at 100,420. 

 From a subsequent survey of therookeries, however, it was found, owing 

 to the increase of seals this year, that their cai)acity was underrated, 

 there being a difference of (59,580 square feet, which on the above basis 

 would make a difference in favor of the rookeries of 34,790 seals and 

 the total at 193,210. Even this latter figure, in my opinion, is consid- 

 erably below the real number that frequent the island. It is utterly 

 impossible to make other than an approximate estimate of their num- 

 ber. It would be about as easy to calculate the number of bees in and. 

 around a hive. This survey was made of the breeding grounds only, 

 and the capacity of the hauling grounds was not considered, nor was 

 the number in the water. It lias, I believe, been stated that the seals 

 never leave the rookeries until the fall. This is not tbe case, for at 

 least one-fourth of their number is constantly in the water, and this, 

 added to the number on the hauling grounds, would add 50 per cent to 

 the number before given, making a grand total of 289,815 of all classes. 



In reports submitted to the Department a few years ago it was esti- 

 mated that the number of seals upon this island was one-half the 

 number on St. Paul. This is incorrect. From the best sources of 

 information and from personal observations I am of opinion that to 

 every one on this island there are twenty seals on St. Paul. 



THE MANNER OF KILLING, 



as practiced by the natives, is very simple. About 2 or 3 o'clock in the 

 morniug a party of hunters, armed with hardwood clubs from 4 to 5 

 feet long and 2 inches in diameter, move quietly between the breeding 

 rookeries and the background where the bachelors are lying. When 

 they have advanced far enough to secure the desired number, a halt is 

 made by the leader, who directs the drive inland a short distance, 

 where they are separated into small lots of 100 and 200 each and slowly 

 driven to the killing ground near the village, at tlie rate of half a mile 

 per hour. Should the weather be warm and the grass dry, a much 

 greater time is required. One man and a boy are generally appointed 

 to the care of each lot when on a drive. 



Before killing, they are allowed to rest and cool for an hour or so, after 

 which thirty or forty are selected from the main body, driven a few 

 rods, and surrounded. Each native, with a few well-directed blows 

 (sometimes one will suffice) over the head, soon disi)atches all the desira- 

 ble ones, while those that are rejected are allowed to return to the 

 water. Those allowed to escape are generally from 15 to 20 per cent 



