SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. T2E 
On March 26, in latitude 38° 39/ north, longitude 144° 27’ east, a seal- 
ing boat was discovered bottom up, painted green on the outside and 
red inside. It had been hove to, with mast, sails, and oars out, for a 
drag. <A shotgun, a ‘‘ sticking” knife, with the letters *‘W. B.” cut in 
the handle, and a seal skin were found in it, the skin being considerably 
decayed. 
We spoke the schooners Lillie L., of San Francisco, and Penelope, of 
San Pedro, on March 28 and 31, in latitude 39° 02’ north, longitude 1449 
44/ east. Heavy gales prevailed until the Ist of April. Fair weather 
continued until the 9th, during which time 210 seals were taken. 
Stormy weather again came on, which lasted for three days. On May 11 
spoke with the schooner Casco, of Victoria, in latitude 39° 43’ north, 
longitude 142° 54’ east. Very little sealing was carried on until the 18th. 
On the 19th, two of the boats went astray in latitude 37° 02’ north, 
longitude 146° 03/ east, and no tidings of them were obtained until the 
26th, when the schooner Kute and Ann, of Victoria, was spoken and 
reported that they had been picked up by the schooner Penelope, of 
Victoria. 
Sealing was carried on till May 3, when a heavy gale came on, which 
continued until the evening of the 7th, at which time the Olsen sailed 
for Hakodate. In the afternoon of the next day she entered the Straits 
of Tangar, and in the evening came to anchor in the above-mentioned 
harbor. 
On May 16 sealing was again commenced in latitude 40° 55’ north, 
longitude 142° 58’ east, when she also spoke with the Dora Siewerd, 
which reported having 1,300 skins. The following day fell in with the 
schooner Penelope, and received on board the hunters that went astray 
on April 19. On May 26 picked up a boat and crew belonging to the 
schooner Hnterprise, of Victoria, in latitude 41° 50’ north, longitude 
142° 26’ east. The next day spoke with the schooner Umbrina, of Vic- 
toria, which had taken 2,100 skins. 
Hunting was carried on without interruption until June 10, the total 
number of skins taken up to date being 1,055. No more hunting was 
done on the Japan coast. On June 25 the Olsen arrived at Attu 
Island and on July 15 at Unalaska. 
I was informed by the captain and hunters of the Olsen that full nine- 
tenths of the seals taken on the Japan cruise were females, and that it 
is very seldom thata bull is killed. I have since talked with a number 
of hunters belonging to other vessels, and they all say that the Japan 
catch of seals consists mostly of females. A few more males are found 
at the Copper Islands, but the percentage there is small. 
