198 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



ing seals wei'e sighted, latitude 57 50' north, longitude 173 48' west. 

 Five boats were sent out. They returned at 5 p. m., having taken 

 no seals, although 8 had been seen, but they were all " travelers." 

 Heavy fog and strong indications of the wind breezing up fresh caused 

 the boats to return earlier than they otherwise would. In the evening,, 

 the vessel being hove to, several seals came close alongside. They 

 seemed to be very curious to know what we were. All the spears on 

 board were repeatedly thrown at them, but they had the good sense to 

 keep just out of range. Whistling had the effect of enticing them close 

 aboard, but the sight of a spear or two being aimed at them would cause 

 them, without any apparent effort, to increase their distance by 20 or 

 more feet. 



The first seal captured by the Ohen was on August 4, in latitude 57 

 50' north, longitude 173 48' west, the same position recorded on the 

 previous day. At 8.45 a. m. sail was made, and at 10.45 the boats were 

 lowered, two "sleepers" having been seen. The weather being foggy 

 the boats were soon lost to sight. The vessel was hove to, it being 

 much easier for the boats to keep the bearing of the vessel than for 

 the vessel to keep track of the boats. 



As soon as the boats had left a hand line was put over in 70 fathoms 

 of water. An hour's fishing resulted in 18 cod. Their average weight, 

 as near as could be judged, was 12 pounds; the largest weighed not far 

 from 30 pounds. All but two of the cod were in a healthy condition. 

 These two had sores on their backs about the size of a half dollar, which 

 had eaten nearly to the backbone. This instance is mentioned here on 

 account of the part of the fish where the sores were. In both cases 

 they were situated near the neck, directly over the vertebra; they were 

 as round and smooth as if cut with a knife. 



Notwithstanding that the fog did not lift during the day, the boats 

 remained out until 9 p. m. The result of the day's hunt was 12 seals 

 4 males and 8 females. One of the seals had previously been speared 

 in one of its flippers, as it was nearly severed from its body, showing 

 that the seal must have had a hard struggle to free itself. The largest 

 number of seals caught for this first day's successful hunt was taken 

 by two boats, they bringing in five each; two other boats captured one 

 each, and the remaining two boats brought in nothing. The hunters 

 in these boats, on learning that 12 seals had been captured, indulged in 

 strong language at their nonsuccess. 



About 50 seals had been observed from the boats, the most of which 

 were awake. Only an occasional individual had been seen during the 

 day from the vessel, the fog being too dense to see more than an eighth 

 of a mile. 



In no single instance was the first seal speared at captured ; it was 

 only after repeated attempts by each hunter that one was hit. The 

 excitement caused by the desire on the part of each to be the first 

 to capture a seal, combined with the inexperience of throwing the 

 primitive weapon, was no doubt the chief cause of the poor results. 

 The eight females captured were all nursing seals; but little food was 

 found in their stomachs, and that was too much digested to tell what 

 it consisted of; it was, however, placed in alcohol. 



In the evening, after the seals had been skinned and everything made 

 snug for the night, each hunter told his experience during the day, 

 which, as may be supposed, was more entertaining than instructive. 



On the 5th the wind and weather were not suitable for sealing; a 

 very fresh southeast wind prevailed, and in order to keep our present 

 position the vessel was hove to under easy sail. A large number of 



