134 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 
vessel was hove to under sealing canvass. Excellent observations were 
taken, it being the first time the sun had remained out for any length 
of time since the cruise began. All day birds had been numerous, and 
occasionally a sleeping seal was observed; sometimes two and three 
were seen together. This, combined with the great number of birds, 
assured us that we were on good ground. We frequently wore ship in 
order to hold our position. In the evening rain squalls passed over. 
On the morning of August 26, the wind and sea having subsided, the 
canoes were lowered in latitude 55° 15’ north, longitude 170° 53’ west. 
The weather was pleasant but cool, the air being 2 degrees colder than 
the water. This difference, according to the theory of many sealers, 
would cause seals to “lay low,” or, to put it in clearer terms, they 
would sleep with less of their bodies exposed. 
In view of the number of seals observed before the boats went out, a 
large catch was anticipated, nor were we disappointed, for in the even- 
ing when the last canoe had returned there were 157 seals on deck. 
The opinions advanced to the effect that seals are more plentiful where 
birds occur seem to be entitled to consideration, and it is very probable 
that had we not heeded their presence yesterday, and had sailed by 
them, our catch to-day would not have been large. Our captain had 
become thoroughly convinced of the value of these signs after years of 
experience. 
The canoes were all back at 6.30 p.m., having been absent over twelve 
hours. In the forenoon seals were inclined to be restless, but occasional 
warm rays of sun in the afternoon caused them to sleep soundly. It was 
noticed that a large portion of to-day’s catch was speared either in the 
breast or back, close to the forward flippers, indicating that the seals 
slept soundly, with their bodies largely exposed, which gave the hunters 
an opportunity to strike the most vital part. Aside from the favorable 
condition of the weather, the absence of other vessels from the ground 
materially aided in increasing the day’s catch. 
In only 12 stomachs was food found which could be identified, the 
others being empty. In the full stomachs were observed squid, pollock, 
and one piece of salmon. Fifty of the 62 males were 4 to 5 years old, 
the other 12 about 3 years old. Ninety-two of the females were adults, 
and 2 under 35 years of age. 
All through the night of the 26th and the morning of the 27th the 
weather was calm, or nearly so. At daybreak a light fog hung over 
the water; in the middle of the day it cleared away. On the strength 
of yesterday’s success the hunters went out at an early hour. From 
the vessel scattering seals were observed all through the day. The 
water was very much discolored, and whales and porpoises were abun- 
dant, but there was a marked scarcity of birds as compared with yes- 
terday. At noon a good observation of the sun was taken, which placed 
us in latitude 55° 10’ north, longitude 170° 47’ west. 
At 4p. m. the hunters began to return, and at 7.30 o’clock the last 
one had arrived. The catch nearly equaled that of yesterday, amount- 
ing to 146 seals, 68 being males and 78 females. It will be seen by this 
that there are times when the sexes are nearly equally distributed, but 
as a rule the majority of seals taken at sea are females. Sixty of the 146 
seals were opened; food was taken from 6 males and 14 females, consist- 
ing of squid, pollock, and a small quantity of fishbones. The stomachs 
of the females opened contained a greater quantity of food than the 
males. Thus far, in the examination of stomachs, it had been noticed 
that those of the males contained much less material than the females. 
Most of the males caught to-day were very young, 3 and 4 years old; 
