254 THE SEALS. 



other necessary buildings erected within 2 miles of the killing ground, 

 and all the skins taken there were salted and stored and shipped from 

 North East Point. In 1871) a killing ground was made and a salt house 

 built at Halfway Point, within 2 miles of the hauling grounds, and all 

 skins taken at the Point are salted there. At Zapadnie, the same year, 

 a killing ground was made within a mile ot the hauling ground, and the 

 skins taken there arc taken to the village salt house in boats, or, when 

 the weather is unfavorable, by team and wagon. 



Since 1878 there has not been a drive made on St. Paul Island to 

 exceed 2 miles. At Zapadnie, St. George, a salt house was built about 

 1875, and the 6-mile drive prohibited, and a trail made at great expense 

 across the island, over which the skins are taken on pack-saddles to the 

 Village. Since 1874 no seals have been driven on St. George Island to 

 exceed 2A miles. 



At Northeast Point rookery, on St. Paul Island, the longest drive is 

 2 miles. In former times the Russians used to 



Daniel Webster, p, 182. drive from this rookery to St. Paul village, a dis- 

 tance of 12A miles. 



KILLING. 



Pago 1G3 of The Case. 



The work of killing was done under the general direction of the 

 Superintendent of the Sealeries, who placed a 



W. C. Allis, p. 97. "boss," or leader, at the head of each gang of 



men. It was the business of the "boss" to divide 

 his gang in proper proportions — into " killers," "rippers," and "skin- 

 ners." The "killers" were generally the same men day after day 

 through the season. They became very expert in the management of 

 the drove and the use of the seal club, and very rarely made the mis- 

 take of hitting a seal that was not wanted. 



The "boss" told his men in a general way what class of seals to kill, 

 and worked with them. If they had any doubt whether a certain 

 animal should be knocked down they appealed to him for explicit 

 direction. The work thus w r ent forward in a very systematic, orderly 

 way. 



In killing seals for their skins, the methods employed by the Russian 



Fur ( Jompany prior to American occupation were 

 H. H. Mclntyre, p. 48. closely followed, except that many innovations 

 and improvements were instituted and adopted 

 after the first year of the lease. The work was chiefly done by the na- 

 tives, each gang of workmen being headed, as under Russian custom, 

 by a native chief. All thoroughly understood the work, having been 

 bred to it from boyhood. 



Upon reaching the killing ground the herd was, in dry weather, 

 placed upon moist ground and allowed to cool off. 



When killing, if the herd collected upon the slaughter grounds was 

 of considerable size, a portion of it was segregated and taken to the 

 immediate vicinity of the workmen, the remainder being left at rest. 

 This portion was again subdivided into "pods" ot twenty-live to seventy- 

 live animals and driven directly to the killing gang, generally compris- 

 ing six or seven men, who with a single blow knocked senseless such 



