A DRIVE FROM THE REEF. 117 



early morning the natives visit such hauling grounds as have been selected, and, 

 surrounding the animals, drive them inland to the point where they may conveniently 

 be slaughtered. As illustrating this process of driving, we may quote the following 

 record taken from the field notes of the commission : 



THE DRIVE. 



The drive from Gorbatch ami Reef rookeries this morning (Jnly 15) was witnessed by Dr. Jordan, 

 Professor Thompson, Dr. Stejneger, Mr. Lucas, and Mr. Clark. Captain Moser and Lieutenant Garrett, 

 of the Albatross, were also present. Mr. Crowley, Treasury agent, conducted the movements of the 

 visitors. Fifteen Aleuts made np the driving party. 



We left the village at 2 o'clock in the morning. It was then light enough to make one's way 

 without difficulty. After a few minutes' walk we reached Zoltoi sands, a beach about one-fourth of 

 a mile from the village, at the angle of which the bachelors from Gorbatch rookery haul out to reach 

 the rocky slope above. The drivers ran in quickly between the seals and the sea and soon had the 

 animals rounded up in a large pod. From a similar hauling ground on the shore just across the neck 

 of the peninsula another pod was in like manner rounded up. The two pods combined were left in 

 charge of three men to be driven across the sands to the village killing ground a few hundred yards 

 beyond. 



We then proceeded to the extreme point of the Reef peninsula. The hauling ground of Reef 

 rookery lies in the rear of the breeding ground and has four well- marked runways connecting it with 

 the sea, on which no harems are located. A line of idle bulls keeps clear a considerable space between 

 the hauling ground and the rookery. From the head of the various runways and in the intervening 

 space poda of sleeping bachelors were rounded up, the Aleuts passing between the idle bulls and the 

 bachelors and turning the latter up the bank to the flat parade ground back of the hauling ground. 

 Here the pods were all united in one large group and the drive started on its way. It was 3 o'clock 

 when we reached the point, and by 3.30 the drive was in motion. 



After passing over a short space of ground, scattered at wide intervals with irregular bowlders 

 and having a gentle slope, the drive came into the level grassy plain of the parade ground. Here the 

 herd, which numbered about 1,500 bachelors, Avas separated into two parts for greater ease and safety 

 in driving. While one pod was allowed to rest the other was driven slowly forward in the direction 

 of the village. Three men were now assigned to each pod, and the rest of the drivers allowed to 

 return to the village to make ready for the killing. We followed the first herd. 



Over the green turf of the parade ground the drive moved along quietly and without difficulty. 

 The drivers took their positions one on each flank to repress any lateral movements, and the third 

 brought up the rear. There was no noise or confusion. In general the seals were allowed to take 

 their own time and go at their own pace. Those in the advance acted as leaders, and the rest of the 

 flock followed naturally after them. At the beginning the seals showed some reluctance in leaving 

 their hauling grounds, and made ineffectual attempts to break away. Hut after the drive was under 

 way they moved forward apparently as a matter of course. When the lea'ders showed an inclination 

 to take the wrong course the men on the flank simply stood up and raised a hand, which was sufficient 

 to turn them back into the way. For the most part the men kept out of sight of the seals. 



The seals on the drive do not keep up a continuous motion. They take ten or a dozen steps and 

 then sit down like dogs to rest and pant, resuming their way when they find that their companions 

 have gone on. The leaders set the example, and as they are rested by the time the rear members of 

 the herd have come to a standstill, they move on and are ready to stop by the time the rear guard 

 have started. The result is that some part of the herd is moving all the time and the progression is 

 continuous. 



There is a tendency on the part of the young seals to go faster than the older ones, of which 

 a large number were included. By a gradual sifting process the old fellows fell to the rear, and on 

 several occasions pods of from a dozen to tweuty were cut oft' and allowed to return to the sea. 



All the seals and especially the larger ones showed signs of fatigue. They appeared to be hot 

 and excited, and a cloud of steam rose constantly from the luoving animals. This steam had a strong 

 musky smell. When the herd stopped, individual seals would often sprawl out on the ground, raising 

 their hind flippers and waving them fan-like evidently in an effort to cool off. After resting a 



