130 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



ot'souiulings to the lOOiathoin curve, wliicli was probably within a dis- 

 tance of 15 miles uorth of onr position. A summer gale, couimou to 

 this section, set in and blew for 36 hours from the southward and east- 

 ward, conipellinji" us to lay a course to the northward and eastward. 

 Accor<lin<;ly, we worked o\er to the A'icinity of St. JNIattliew Island, 

 and then shaped a course to the. southward and westward in order to 

 ascertain presence of seals and sealers in this region. 



August 7 and 8 were days of fair sealing weather, with comparatively 

 smooth sea and light airs from the southward. Passing to the soutli- 

 west through this quadrant, at an average distance of 75 to 00 miles 

 from St. Paul, many seals were observed. Outside of 200 miles from 

 St. Paul, northwest, no seals were visible. By stopping the engines 

 and allowing the ship to lie passive in the water, as many as 20 seals 

 were counted alongside within a few feet of the ship, some ])laying 

 and jumping, apparently young seals, from their smaller size, while the 

 larger size Avere principally sleeping. By sending out a boat with Mr. 

 Townsend and a camera several photographs were obtained of seals, both 

 asleep and jdaying. Over 30 were counted by the boat's crew within 

 the«pace of one hour at a distance of less than half a mile from the ship. 

 A fishing trial was made at this place, latitude 58° 2' N., longitude 

 172° 57' \V., in (51 fathoms, which resulted in a catch of 37 cod; aver- 

 age weight 15 pounds, average length 28 inches; 10 males, 18 females. 

 An analysis of the contents of the stomachs showed this to be a rich 

 feeding-ground. Cruising on the 0th in the southwest sealing belt, 

 numerous seals were seen going to and coming from the islands at a 

 distance of 20 miles outside of the 60-mile limit. 



The 10th of August was a perfect sealing day, smooth sea, with long 

 swell from the SW. and light airs from east. At 5.20 a. m., latitude 55° 

 55' JSr., longitude 171° 45' W., St. George Island bearing NE. ^ N. (mag- 

 netic), distant 91 miles, we encountered large schools of seals of different 

 sizes, some playing and jumping, others sleeping. The beating of the 

 propellers would awake the sleeping seals at a distance of 150 to 200 

 yards, when they Avould dive and disappear. Surface and intermediate 

 tow-nets were put over twice, the latter at a depth of 50 fathoms. The 

 siu'face net showed numerous larval crabs, small crustaceans, and fish 

 eggs. The intermediate net contained numerous small crustaceans and 

 sagitta. The surface temperature was 44°; at 5 fathoms 43.5°; 10 

 fathoms 43° F. Large schools of seals have been observed within a 

 radius of 75 juiles of the Pribilofs in an arc extending from NW, to 

 SW. and S. By stopping the ship, and thereby the noise of the propel- 

 lers in the water, seals soon appear upon the surface and ai)proach 

 within a few feet of the vessel. In this way numerous schools have 

 been counted, whereas Avith the ship under way only an occasional seal 

 would be seen at a distance. 



Falling in with the British sealer Mascot, of Victoria, I placed on 

 board a tank of alcohol, in which stomach specimens of seals were to be 

 placed, to be forwarded to Mare Island, thus obtaining additional data 



