108 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



with were boarded and examined, but no infractions of law were found. The 

 fishermen were closely questioned as to illegal killing of seals, but no evidence 

 in this regard was obtained. Government and Territorial officials, residents, 

 and natives of the towns visited were interviewed for the purpose of verify- 

 ing rumors of illegal killing of seals, both by natives and by fishermen, but no 

 one advanced any information with regard to these supposed violations of law. 

 Very few fishing vessels were found on the fishing banks. It was reported, 

 however, that, owing to a poor market for fish, an unusually small number 

 of vessels were engaged in fishing operations during the spring. So far as 

 could be determined no sea otters have been seen in the waters of soutlieast 

 Alaska for a number of years. 



Snohomish. — The Snohomish maintained an active patrol of the waters be- 

 tween the Columbia River and Dixon Entrance for the protection of the seal 

 herd during its migration northward. The cutter left Port Angeles, Wash., 

 on April 8, 1922, and arrived at Astoria, Oreg., on April 9. On the following 

 day began the patrol off the Columbia River entrance. From that date until 

 June 1 the Snohomish maintained a continuous patrol of the waters named. 

 The patrol was not discontinued, however, until it was ascertained beyond 

 doubt that the seal herd had passed the section of the coast which the Sno- 

 homish was assigned to patrol. While engaged in the patrol duties the com- 

 manding ofticer of the cutter interviewed various persons with regard to seal- 

 ing along the coasts of British Columbia and Washington. Among those con- 

 sulted were the Indian agent, the Weathef Bureau observer, and the general 

 storekeeper, all of Neah Bay, the Indian agent and school-teacher at Qiiillayute, 

 Wash., various Indians engaged in sealing off the coast of Washington, the 

 collector of customs at Port Alberni, British Columbia, the commanding officer 

 of the Canadian fisheries steamer Thiepval, and various fishermen. It ap- 

 pears that the Quillayute Indians of Qnillayute, Wash., and the Makah In- 

 dians of Neah Bay, Wash., are the only tribes that engage in sealing along the 

 Washington coast. Both of the above-mentioned villages were visited and 

 investigations conducted. The Makah Indians seal from Ozette, which is more 

 advantageously located to the sealing grounds than Neah Bay. It was ascer- 

 tained that only two Indians remain of the Ozette tribe. During the current 

 season 18 canoes were sealing out of Quillayute and 10 out of Ozette. When 

 the weather is favorable the natives leave their villages abont 3 a. m., paddle 

 out to sea for a distance of 20 to 30 miles, hunt for four or five hours, and 

 return to their villages by dark. From 10 to 12 hours each day is spent going 

 to and from the sealing ground. The commanding officer of the Snohomish 

 reports that, owing to the treacherous waters in the vicinity of Cape Flattery, 

 canoes are caught frequently offshore in a gale, and being unable to land 

 through the surf the sealers' lives are tlius endangered. The commanding 

 officer heartily concurs in the recommendation made not long ago by an official 

 of the Indian Service, namely, that the Indians be permitted to take seals with 

 firearms from motor boats, and that their total catch be limited. It appears 

 that the natives are very jealous of their exclusive prerogative of taking seal- 

 skins and are quick to report any vessels that they suspect are conducting 

 illegal sealing operations. No evidence has been found that persons other than 

 Indians are engaged in sealing or that the Indians are employing illegal methods 

 in killing the animals. The commanding officer of the Canadian fisheries 

 steamer Thiepval reports that the bulk of the seal herd passed the British 

 Columbia coast during the first two weeks of May. He also reports that the 

 only sealing operations conducted along the British Columbia coast is between 

 Clayoquot Sound and Kyuquot Sound, such operations being carried on by the 

 natives in that locality, and that very little sealing has been done this year, us 

 the Indians can obtain better pecuniary returns by fishing. He further states, 

 however, that he has no evidence to substantiate the belief that seals are being 

 taken illegally. 



Summary. — In summarizing the season's operations the Bering Sea patrol 

 commander reports that a number of trips were made over the fishing banks 

 in the southeastern part of Bering Sea (Slime and Baird Banks), also Bowers 

 and Petrel Banks, in the southern part of Bering Sea, and over Portlock, 

 Albatross, Sanak, and Davidson Banks, in the North Pacific Ocean, for the 

 purpose of determining whether vessels engaged in fishing were operating In 

 accordance with the terms of the convention for the preservation and protec- 

 tion of fur seals ; also for the purpose of rendering medical aid and other 

 assistance to the fishing vessels. While on these cruises mail received from the 



