ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



81 



throats liangs like clouds of white steam in the gray fog itself; indeed, 

 it may be said to be a seal-fog peculiar to the spot, while the din, the 

 roar, arising over all, defies our description. 



We notice to our right and to our left the immense solid masses of 

 the breeding seals at Gorbotch, and those stretching and trending 

 around nearly a mile from our feet, far around to the Reef Point 

 below and opposite the parade ground, with here and there a neutral 

 passage left open for the " holluschickie " to go down and come up 

 from the waves. 



The adaptation of this ground of the Reef rookery to the require- 

 ments of the seal is perfect. It so lies that it falls gently from its high 

 Zoltoi Bay margin on the west to the sea on the east; and upon its 

 broad expanse not a solitary puddle of mud spotting is to be seen, 

 though everything is reeking with moisture, and the fog even dissolves 

 into rain as we view the scene. Every trace of vegetation upon this 

 parade has been obliterated; a few tufts of grass, capping the summits 

 of those rocky hillocks, indicated on the eastern and middle slope, 

 are the only signs of botanical life which the seals have suffered to 

 remain. 



A small rock, "Seevitchie Kammin," 500 or 600 feet right to the 

 H. Doc. \)-J, pt. 3 6 



