ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1923 133 



the skins was done for the bureau by A. D. Dodge, superintendent. 

 United States Indian School, Neah Bay, Wash. 



Southeast Alaska. — Five hundred and fifty-three skins were au- 

 thenticated, of which 408 were from male seals and 145 from females. 

 In addition, the skins of 73 unborn pups were authenticated, of 

 which 72 were secured in 1923 and 1 in 1922. 



The following description of sealing operations by Indians in 

 southeast Alaska in 1923 is taken from a report made by Assistant 

 Agent E. M. Ball, of the Bureau of Fisheries : 



Nine Indian parties of five men eacli engaged in pelagic sealing off the coast 

 of Alaska, near Sitka, in the spring of 1923. Hunting began March 29, when 

 one bull was taken, but it was carried on only intermittently from that date 

 to the end of April, chiefly on account of unfavorable weather conditions. 

 Sealing began in earnest in May and was carried on assiduously during the 

 month, there being less interruption of operations by wind. The last killing 

 was reported on June 6, but hunting was discontinued on or before June 1 by 

 all except two parties. 



Two camps were established by the sealers on the Necker Islands — one at 

 Biorka and the other on Tava. Two parties operated from the former base 

 and all others from the latter. These bases were approximately 14 miles 

 southwest of Sitka. Entire families located at the camp and feasted on seal 

 meat and venison while the hunters were sealing. 



The preferred sealing area comprised a zone approximately 40 miles in 

 length by 15 miles in width, the easterly edge of which was about 5 miles 

 outside the 100-fathom curve off Sitka Sound. A few seals were taken at a 

 distance of 10 to 15 miles westerly of the Necker Islands, but the bulk of the 

 catch was made nearly 20 miles at sea. Toward the end of the season the 

 Indians found it necessary to go farther from shore to find the greater number 

 of seals, distances of 25 and 30 miles being reached by some boats. 



The sealing boats averaged about 22 feet in length and 6 feet in breadth. 

 They were equipped with two masts and sails, four sets of oars, two spears, 

 and several clubs, both plain and barbed. Each spear carries a detachable 

 point to which is fastened a line capable of holding and hauling a seal close 

 enough to the boat for clubbing. When the spear is successfully cast, the 

 point penetrates the body of the seal, usually the abdomen, and as the handle 

 is withdrawn it turns sidewise after the manner of a harpoon and, being 

 barbed, is not easily withdrawn. A line is attached to the point about midway 

 between its ends which enables the hunter to hold the animal. The first 10 

 feet of the line is fine wire, because it is less likely to be parted than hemn 

 or manila by the struggling and biting of the seal. Large seals fight viciously 

 and frequently attack both men and boats. For that reason the hunters avoid 

 the larger ones and select those of a size which may be more easily killed 

 and handled. The larger seals are skinned at sea without being loaded into 

 the boats ; the smaller ones are frequently brought ashore and skinned, accord- 

 ing as the boat may or may not need ballast on its return to camp, or as the 

 hunters may or may not be tired or otherwise engaged. 



Much manual labor is involved in sealing, especially if there is adverse 

 wind or none at all. The simple act of going to and returning from the sealing 

 zone rarely means a cruise of less than 40 miles, and in addition to this many 

 more miles must be covered each day in hunting. Seal hunting is real work, 

 and it means action, not waiting, as is often the case in hunts on land. 

 Gentle winds are favorable to hunting, as the sealers are able to approach 

 their prey from leeward with less likelihood of being scented, whereas more 

 than moderate breezes cause choppy water and then seals are not easily 

 located. Some of the natives claim that an absolute calm is as unfavorable 

 for hunting as too much wind. Noise carries easier in all directions, and the 

 seals are moi-e easily disturbed from slumber during calm weather. A 

 ripple on the water seems to promote sound sleep, and it is while the seals 

 are sleeping that the sealers strike. One of the most successful hunters 

 expressed the opinion that seals feeding on herring sleep more soundly than 

 those feeding on salmon, and that larger catches are made when the seals 

 are following the schools of herring. He should know whereof he speaks, 

 having had many years' experience in sealing off the coast of British 

 Columbia. 



