170 FROM RADACK TO 



had his whole arm bit off. . It was Ukewise the 

 time now that some of the Honesses brought forth : 

 several lay surrounded by their descendants. The 

 young ones are accounted dainties by the Aleutians 

 and resident Russians. As the agent wished to 

 give us some with us on our voyage, a lioness was 

 frightened, and the young driven a little on shore to 

 kill them. The crying of the young lions has much 

 resemblance to the bleating of sheep. We found the 

 flesh well-tasted in the sequel ; but it is said not to 

 be eatable after it is a year old. 



The sea-cats, which visit this island only in 

 small numbers, and have their principal quarters 

 at St. Paul, lay apart. The male, which is nearly 

 of the form of a sea-lion, and about the size of a 

 lioness, is as large again as the female. The sea- 

 cat has likewise many mates, but they do not com- 

 bat for the possession of them, but are constantly 

 employed in watching their females, which take 

 advantage of every moment to fly. The sea-cat 

 is often found lying alone, loudly lamenting the 

 loss of his mate. The skin of these animals is 

 much liked in China, and even in Russia large 

 sums are given for it. The American Company 

 has a fixed and considerable revenue from this and 

 the island of St. Paul. Only thirty years ago, sea- 

 otters were here in such abundance, that a man could 

 catch from two to three hundred of them in an hour; 

 but when these animals, which are accounted by 

 the Aleutians as the most ciuming, saw themselves 



