THE STELLERUS. 311 



boat, by going beneath it ; others will fling them- 

 selves on the rope in order to break it, and others 

 will endeavour to force the instrument from its 

 hold. Their conjugal affection is most striking: 

 a male, after using all its endeavours to relieve its 

 mate which had been struck, following it to the 

 water's edge, whence no blows could force it to de- 

 part. As long as she continued in the water he 

 attended ; and even for three days after her death, 

 he was observed to remain in expectation of her 

 return. 



They are most voracious creatures, and feed with 

 their head under water, quite inattentive to the 

 boats, or any thing that passes around them ; mov- 

 ing and swimming gently after one another, some- 

 times with a great portion of their back out of the 

 water. Every now and then they elevate their 

 nose to take breath, and make a noise like the 

 snorting of horses. 



They were taken at Behring's Island by a great 

 hook fastened to a long rope, which was taken into 

 a boat, and rowed amidst the herd. When the 

 animal was struck, the loose end of the rope was 

 conveyed to land, where it was seized by about 

 thirty people, who with great difficulty drew it on 

 shore. The poor creature made the strongest resist- 

 ance, assisted by its faithful companions, and cling- 

 ing to the rocks with the greatest pertinacity. In 

 summer they are very fat, in winter quite lean. 



The skin is used by the natives to cover their 

 boats. The fat, which covers the whole body like 



