OBSERVATIONS DURING A CRUISE ON THE DORA 
SIEWERD, AUGUST-SEPTEMBER, 1895. 
By A. B. ALEXANDER. 
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 
U.S. COMMISSION OF FISH AND FISHERIES, 
OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER, 
Washington, March 9, 1896. 
S1r: I have the honor to transmit for your information a report by 
Mr. A. B. Alexander, fishery expert of the United States Fish Com- 
mission steamer Albatross, entitled, ‘‘Report of observations made dur- 
ing a cruise in Bering Sea in the sealing schooner Dora Siewerd, in 
August and September, 1895.” The preparation of this report has only 
recently been completed. 
Very respectfully, HERBERT A. GILL, 
Acting Commissioner. 
The SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY, 
Washington, D. C. 
CRUISE OF THE DORA SIEWERD IN BERING SEA. 
Pursuant to instructions from the Hon. Marshall McDonald, United 
States Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, to secure passage on a 
pelagic sealing vessel for the purpose of making a cruise in Bering Sea, 
with the object of gathering information concerning the pelagic habits 
of fur seals, the methods employed for their capture at sea, their food, 
the proportion of each sex represented in the catch, etc., I left the Alba- 
tross at Unalaska, the middle of July, 1895, to await the arrival of the 
sealing fleet. Subsequently accommodations were obtained, through 
the kindness of Capt. H. F. Siewerd, on his vessel, the Dora Siewerd, 
a schooner of 100 tons register, and one of the largest in the fleet. She 
carried 18 canoes and 2 boats, and a crew of 36 Indians and 9 white 
men. As two Indians go in a canoe, the spearsmen and boat steerers 
were equally divided. 
The writer went on board the Siewerd in the evening of July 27, but 
owing to stormy weather she did not sail until the morning of the 31st, 
getting under way in company with 27 other sealing vessels. The wind 
being light we were obliged to anchor off Ulakhta Head. Hand lines 
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