504 OFFICIAL REPORTS. 



the day previous to our ariival and 1,000 seals killed. Quite a large 

 number of seals were on the rookeries at that time — all males I 

 Avas told. We sailed on that eruise January 2 via Puget Sound about 

 January 9. During the passage from Puget Sound to Unimak Pass, 

 after elearing the land we saw fur-seals nearly every day. These were 

 probably some of the last to leave the islands, and were on their way 

 to the American coast in searcli of food and a milder climate. Those 

 which left earlier were already upon the coast. As shown by the affi- 

 davits of the sealers, they begin to take seals on the 

 Sealing ofl- coast. ^,.^.^^^ ^^^ California in January. The clinmte and food 

 supply undoubtedly control the migration of the seals as they do other 

 animals. The old males being hardier and stronger can withstand the 

 climate and secure food under conditions that would be unendurable 

 for females and young. Male seals remain upon and around the islands 

 until the ice appears. The natives say the codfish also disappears with 

 the first appearance of ice. Many of these males, I believe, remain upon 

 the fishing banks in Bering Sea during the rest of the Avinter Some 

 of them go to the banks outside of the Aleutian chain, and others to 

 the banks farther east. 



Old bulls are rarely seen south of Cross Sound, while we found them 

 plentiful and apparently in peaceful possession of a liberal suj^ply of 

 red rock fish about 75 miles off Yakutat. 



As the cold weather approaches, the females and young leave Bering 

 . Sea, and about two months later appear otf the Ameri- 



igia ion. ^^^^^ coast, whcrc they find a genial climate and an 



abundance of food. They appear on the coast of California and Oregon 

 siihultaneously Avith the smelt and herring. As 1 previously reported, 

 we learned upon our arrival at Astoria, March 18, that the smelt had 

 come and gone ; that they were unusually early this year. We were told 

 by the sealers off the coast at that time, and our observations confirmed 

 it, that the seals were moving north nnusually early. On the coast of 

 Alaska in April and May, when according to our observations and the 

 testimony of tlie Indians seals are most plentiful, we found the bays 

 filled with herring, smelt, and eulachon. 



I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



C. L. Hooper, 

 Captain, United States Revenue Marine. 



report of johnstone h. quinan, second lieutenant 

 united states revenue marine. 



pelagic sealing. 



United States Eevenue Steamer Corwin, 



iSitJca, Alaska, May 4, 1892. 

 Capt. C. L. Hooper, U..S. R. M., 



Commanding : 

 Sir: 1 herewith respectfully offer the following notes relative to pe- 

 lagic sealing derived from observati<>n and ])ersonal 



Exiiiu-ieuoe. '^ . "- 



experience. 

 In obedience to your orders I accompanied two Neah Bay Indians, 



(Jh'ad and Wilton hv name. Mav 1st and 2d, off Sitka 

 imHans"""'"' '' ' ' '' ^'^ouod, to luint scal.' Tlic canoe wc used is of the :N"eah 



P>ay tyjx', iiollowed out of white cedar, 21 feet long, ',^ 

 feet beam, and 20 inches deep, braced b> thwarts secured to the sides 



