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130 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 
a female, a piece of squid; and in another, material resembling partly 
digested crustaceans. 
The water through which we had passed was considerably discolored, 
and the few seals taken were captured where crustaceans were the most 
abundant. In the evening large flocks of guillemots, petrels, and auks 
were noticed, apparently feeding. No small fish being noticed, it was 
supposed that the birds were feeding on minute surface life. 
On August 15 the weather was very pleasant, only light airs disturb- 
ing the water, and a finer day for sealing could not be desired. By 5 
a.m.all the boats had left the vessel, not returning until about the same 
hour in the evening. <A considerable number of sleeping and traveling 
seals were in sight most of the day. Those that were traveling were 
not, so far as was observed, going in any oue direction. Sometimes a 
bunch of two or three would suddenly start toward the southeast, swim 
rapidly for a few minutes, stop, and go in an opposite direction. Fre- 
quently four or five would make a complete circle around the vessel at 
a distance of a quarter of a mile. In afew instances young seals came 
and played about, diving and swimming, ete. 
An abundance of seals was seen from the vessel, but as they occur 
in bands more or less widely separated, it was not certain that the 
canoes and small boats would get among them. All through the day 
whales and birds were numerous and the water was very much dis- 
colored, signs now looked upon as favorable indications for a successful 
day’s hunt. 
At4 p.m. the boats began to return and by 6 o’clock they had all 
arrived except one. The day proved fairly successful, 99 seals having 
been taken, 31 males and 68 females. Nine was the highest catch and 
1 the lowest by a single boat or canoe. They were by far the largest 
seals yet obtained, only 8 of the females being under 3 years of age. 
All of the stomachs were examined, but only 10 of the number contained 
food, some a small amount of liquid matter, and others Alaskan pollock 
and what appeared to be pieces of cod. 
In the evening the wind began to freshen from the east-southeast 
and later the stars were visible for the first time since we had entered 
the sea. Al] through the night the wind was fresh, causing a choppy 
sea by morning. During this time we had worked 20 miles to the west- 
ward. A sharp lookout had been kept for the missing canoe and a 
torchlight was displayed at frequent intervals. 
No boats were lowered during the day, the conditions being unfavor- 
able. The wind did not blow hard at any time, but was strong enough 
to prevent the seals from sleeping. In the afternoon we spoke the 
schooner Louis Olsen, which had taken 30 seals the day before. At 4 
p.m. we attempted to sound in latitude 55° 15/ north, longitude 168° 
west, but got no bottom, although we were close to the edge of the 
bank. Just before dark a young seal came alongside and began to 
play about the vessel, first on one side and then on the other, affording 
great amusement to the Indians. After a good many wild throws it 
was captured and proved to be a female. 
On August 17 a fairly good day’s work was accomplished. Light 
airs prevailed from southeast and east-southeast, with frequent calms. 
Light fog and showers occurred several times during the day, but they 
were not heavy enough to prevent seals from sleeping. Early in the 
morning a young seal came alongside and was taken. At 6 a.m. all the 
canoes were lowered; after their departure no seals were seen from the 
vessel. Karly in the afternoon a canoe belonging to the schooner San 
Jose boarded us and reported that vessel as having 530 skins. At 7.30 
