148 MANAGEMENT OF THE SEAL ROOKERIES. 



Control aud do- had. been driven a short distance from the hauling 



mestication. 



grounds.^ Mr. Henry N. Chirk, who was for six 

 years (1884-1889) in tlie employ of the Alaska 

 Commercial Company and in charge of the 

 *' sealing gang" on St. George Island, and who 

 is therefore especially competent to speak of the 

 possibilities of driving and handling the seals, 

 says: ''I was reared on a farm and have been 

 familiar from boyhood with the breeding of 

 domestic animals, and particularly with the rear- 

 ing and management of young animals, hence 

 the comparison of the young seals with the 

 young of our common domestic species is most 

 " natural. From my experience with both I am 

 able to declare positively that it is easier to 

 manage and handle young seals than calves 

 or lambs.^ Large numbers of the former are 

 customarily driven up in the fall by the natives 

 to kill a certain number for food, and all could 

 be 'rounded up' as the prairie cattle are if there 

 was any need for doing so.^ All the herd so 

 driven are lifted up one by one and examined 

 as to sex, and while in this position each could 

 be branded or marked if necessary. If the seal 



1 Vol. II, p. 162. See also J. C. Redpath, Vol. II, p. 152. 

 « See also John Fratis, Vol. II, p. 109. 

 8 Sec also Watson C. AUis, Vol. II, p. 98. 



