ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1923 129 



FUR-SEAL PATROL BY UNITED STATES COAST GUARD 



The customary patrol for the protection of fur seals was main- 

 tained by the Coast Guard in 192;). The cutters engaged were the 

 Algonquin^ Flaida^ Mojave^ Beai% Snohomish^ TJnalga^ and Gahokia. 

 The Snohomish^ Unalga., and Gahokia were detailed to carry on the 

 patrol of waters off the Pacific Coast States and southeastern Alaska, 

 while the Algonquin^ Haida^ Mojave, and Bear covered waters of 

 the Aleutian Islands and Bering Sea. The Bea?' made its usual 

 cruise into Arctic waters. Many courtesies were extended by the 

 Coast Guard to the bureau in the transportation of passengers, mail, 

 and freight to and from the Pribilof Islands during the progress of 

 file patrol, for which acknowledgment is hereby made. 



In connection with the patrol the cutters perform a great many 

 duties of a public nature aside from those concerned with fur seals and 

 the fisheries. The following extracts, taken from a report furnished 

 by the Coast Guard in regard to the season's work, have been selected 

 only as they relate to fur-seal matters : 



Cahokia. — The Vahokia, in compliance witli her orders relative to the seal 

 patrol, sailed from Eureka, Calif., on April 1, 1923, cruised to the entrance of 

 the Columbia Kiver, and spent the night of April 6 at Astoria, Oreg. ; sailed 

 the following day, and returned to Eureka on April 13. On the crui.se north- 

 ward the 100-fathom curve was approximately followed. On the return trip 

 the vessel zigzagged on legs of approximately 20 miles in length between the 

 limits of 10 to 30 miles off shore. During this cruise seals were seen as fol- 

 lows : Twenty-two off the Columbia River on April 6, 17 in the vicinity of 

 Cascade Head on April S, and 50 on Heceta Bank on April 9. The total number 

 of seals sighted was 125. Two fishing boats were boarded during the cruise. 

 On April 15 the Cahokia sailed from Eureka on the second trip to the Columbia 

 River, returning on April 29. Cruising to the northward, zigzag courses were 

 steered to cover areas where it was thought seals might be found. The vessel 

 sailed to the southward on the 23d to cover more thoroughly the area between 

 Heceta Bank and the Columbia River. During this trip 20 seals were sighted 

 on Heceta Bank and 25 off the Columbia River entrance. No fishing vessels 

 were seen. On May 3 the Cahokia sailed for the third trip from Eureka, 

 arriving at Astoria on May 7. On the first day no seals were seen, but the 

 average for the other four days was four seals a day. No fishing vessels were 

 sighted. 



The commanding officer draws the following conclusions as a result of this 

 patrol : That the seals proceed to the northward along the northern California 

 and Oregon coasts with little delay until they reach a position off Heceta 

 Bank, and between there and the Columbia River a small number stop to feed. 

 Most of the seals sighted were lying in small groups on top of the water, the 

 others were alone and traveling. * * * while engaged on this cruise the 

 Cahokia steamed 2,905 miles and boarded two ves.sels. 



Snoho)nish.~The Snohomiffh operated between the Columbia River and 

 Dixon Entrance from April 4 to INIay 26, 1923, for the protection of the seal 

 herd migrating northward. * * * During the period covered by the patrol 

 numerous officials were interviewed on matters pertaining to sealing along 

 the coasts of Washington and British Columbia. From information obtained 

 it appears that the Quillayute Indians of La Push, Wash., and the Makah 

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

 the Washington coast. The Makah Indians seal from Ozette, as that place 

 is located more advantageously to the sealing ground»s than is Neah Bay. 

 During the current season IS canoes were sealing out of La Push and 12 out of 

 Ozette. It is still the practice of the natives, when the weather is favorable, 

 to leave their villages at about 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. 

 As indicated, from 10 to 12 hours each sealing day is spent in going to and 

 from the sealing grounds. 



