ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 301 



a foot or more of slack may be taken up, and when taken oflf, dried, 

 and slightly stretched it is from 7 to 9 feet long. The male rarely 

 weighs more than 70 or 75 pounds, and is slightly larger than the female, 

 though the latter has usually the best fur. It is very difficult to ascer- 

 tain their habits, as they frequent the most expo-ed and dangerous 

 portions of the coast and seldom go upon the land; but most of the 

 hunters agree to the following facts concerning them: 



They are rarely seen on shore except in winter, when they sometimes 

 haul in great numbers on outlying rocks, particularly after a severe 

 gale, when there is a heavy surf. During the summer they go several 

 miles oft' shore, and are sometimes seen sleeping ujion the kelp or on 

 the water. They breed apparently either upon the kelp or in the water, 

 as there has never been an instance observed of a female giving birth 

 to her young on tlie land. The young are about 12 inches long, 

 and are believed to suck until one year old. They reach their full 

 growth in about from three to five ye^ars. They are covered with a 

 coarse hair of a mixed gray, yellow, and brown color (mostly gray upon 

 the head, neck, and belly), until C months old, when this is gradually 

 replaced by a black fur. The mother, when swimming, carries her pups 

 between her paws, and sleeps on the water on her back, holding them in 

 the same manner. The food of the sea otter consists of shellfish, such 

 as the ray or clam, cral\s, and sea urchins, and probably kelp. They 

 obtain a shellfish by diving, often In 15 fathoms of water; and after 

 bringing them to the surface, crush their shells between their claws and 

 breast. They are often seen playing together, but never fighting; 

 though when wounded it is almost impossible to catch them with the 

 hands, as they bite severely and are so lithe and supple that it is diffi- 

 cult to prevent their doing so. Their fiesh is eaten by the natives, and 

 is considered better than that of the fur seal, though inferior to the 

 sea lion's. They are strong, swift swimmers, swimming even against 

 a gale of wind with considerable rapidity, and nearly always upon their 

 backs, propelling themselves with their hind legs. Their fur is consid- 

 ered equally good at all seasons ; hence they are hunted throughout the 

 entire year. 



The method of taking them varies with the season and locality. In 

 summer they are usually killed iu the water with spears or caught in 

 nets, and in winter are either shot while swimming in the surf or clubbed 

 upon the rocks. They are very shy and keen of scent, which necessi- 

 tates the greatest care on the part of the hunter while hunting them. 

 They do not build fires or even light their j)ipes with the wind in a 

 certain direction, and sometimes go without a fire lor six weeks at a 

 time in winter. 



In taking the sea otters with spears the hunters assemble with their 

 baidarkies, or skin canoes, iu parties of 50 or more, each baidarkie 

 carrying 2 men — one to paddle and the other to use the spear. They 

 then go off shore sometimes 20 miles, and watch quietly for an otter 

 to show his head above water, which he no sooner does than the men in 

 the nearest baidarkies paddle swiftly toward him shouting and throw- 

 ing their spears. This frightens the animal, causing him to dive. As 

 soon as he disappears the nearest baidarkie goes to the spot where he 

 went down and remains there, while the others form a large circle about 

 it and wait for him to reappear. This he does in from fifteen to thirty 

 minutes, usually inside the circle, and the foregoing operation is quickly 

 repeated, so as not to give him time to recover his breath. This is kept 

 up until the otter becomes so much exhausted and out of breath that 

 he can only remain under water for a minute or two, and must finally 



