SECOND LIEUT. J. H. QUINAN, U. S. R. M. 505 



by cedar twigs, the stern rising' abruptly 10 inches and stem projected 

 forward and rising gradually to 2 feet above the gunwale, the latter 

 terminating in a tigurehead, which, with the long prow, resembles some 

 fanciful animal, not unlike a giraffe. In this head is cut a notch, on 

 which the spear rests when ready for use. A rifle, shotgun, spear and 

 line, mast and sail, two paddles, a pair of oars, gafit'pole, short club, a 

 X)rismatic sliaped wooden bailer, and a box of ammunition and bread 

 completed the outfit. After leaving the ship, the Indians, one sitting 

 in the stern with his paddle, and the other in the bow with his oars 

 l)ulled to windward, this being invariably the rule, as it is in this direc- 

 tion the seal must be approached. We had pulled several miles with- 

 out seeing anything-, when suddenly the steersman gave the canoe a 

 shake and pointed in silence to a seal 75 yards distant, lying on its back 

 in the water, apparently asleep. Its flippers were raised ^^ 

 in the air and moving listlessly from side to side, as if ' ' ^"''' 

 fanning itself. The bowman took in his oars and substituted the pad- 

 dle, and the canoe glided noiselessly toward the unconscious seal. 

 When within 40 yards of it the after paddle alone was used, and the 

 bowman stoody ready with the shotgun. It was soon seen that the 

 seal's head was under water. The Indians told me afterward that it 

 was only drowsing and looking for flsh. Whether this be a fact or not 

 I do not know. In this position a seal is said to be " finning." 



During all this time not a word was spoken, and so noiselessly did 

 the canoe glide that we got within 10 yards of it and ^^ ., , ^ , .,,. 

 the hunter fired, pouring a charge of buckshot into its ^ ^ mg. 



breast. The seal, to my great astonishment, was not killed, but gave 

 us one surprised look and instantly dived out of sight. It rose again 

 50 yards off, gave us another look and a second time disappeared. 

 Then followed a chase to windward, the Indians dexterously api)ly- 

 ing their paddles in that direction. Three times it disappeared and 

 reappeared before it was finally shot and captured. Even then it was 

 necessary to use the club to kill it. One hook with the gaff", a sudden 

 pull, and the unfortunate seal vras in the canoe. 



Tlie oars and paddles Avere again used and we continued on our way. 

 The next seals we sighted were three in number, asleep on their sides 

 and backs on a bunch of kelp, their favorite resting place. Their fore 

 and hind flippers were visible, the former closed on their breasts; their 

 heads were lying to leeward, and moving slowly from side to side. In 

 this position a seals sleeps soundly. When its head ceases to move, it 

 is an indication that it is waking up, and this is the time to shoot. 

 The canoe this time approached from a point nearly at right angles to 

 the wind, so as to get a good shot. The most vulnerable place is in the 

 neck Just back of the head. One of the three was instantly killed, 

 another shot and killed after diving and reappearing, and the third 

 escaped. The first one was allowed to float until the second was 

 secured, occupying a space of about twenty seconds. 



The time it requires a seal to sink depends upon the character of the 

 seal and the place in which it is shot. Some sink in- ,. 

 stantly, while others float for two or three minutes, and '^'^ '°^ of seals. 

 possibly longer. Gravid cows, that is, cows that are heavy with young, 

 sink more slowly than males, and seals that are lean more rapidly than 

 those that are fat. If the lungs of a seal which has been killed retain 

 air it will float for quite a while. 



The best time for hunting seal is a good day following a protracted 

 spell of bad weather. In a very rough sea seals can not sleep, but 

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