SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 201 



ami during this last day's hunt they were quite plentiful. Only a single 

 individual would be seen; it would dart first in one direction and then 

 in another, and occasionally would make a desperate leap out of water. 

 Presently a seal would be noticed not far off swimming as rapidly and 

 in as many different directions as the fish. On the day in q uestion, two 

 seals were speared, just as they came to the surface, each with one of 

 these fish in its mouth. The seals did not relinquish their hold when 

 speared, but kept a firm grip until knocked on the head. The speci- 

 mens proved to be Alaskan pollock. In both cases the specimens of 

 fish secured were brought up by large males; one was somewhere 

 between 8 and 10 years of age. 



The two following days, 8th and 9th, the weather was too boisterous 

 for sealing; wind southeast and every indication of a gale. We lay to 

 under the foresail in order to keep as near our present position as pos- 

 sible. A heavy sea set in from the westward, but the wind did not 

 increase above a strong breeze. Scattering seals were about each day, 

 all traveling to the westward. From observation we learned that dur- 

 ing stormy weather seals traveled in an opposite direction to the wind. 

 In a gale it will be found that seals are far more numerous on the lee 

 side of the Pribilof Islands than to the windward of them. When the 

 wind is heavy and the sea rough seals as a rule travel from the seal 

 islands directly to leeward or nearly so. Just how much the wind 

 changes the course of the main body of seals would be hard to say, 

 but so far as our investigations extended, in connection with the travel- 

 ing herd which came under our notice, we are inclined to think that 

 seals within 100 miles of the seal islands, bound to the feeding grounds, 

 will in most cases seek the grounds to the leeward of the group. Seals 

 in a gale take every advantage of wind and sea. It is necessary that 

 they should, for there is evidently a limit to their endurance. 



On the morning of the 10th light winds prevailed, but a choppy sea, 

 combined with a long rolling swell from the west-southwest, rendered 

 it unfit for sealing, although scattering seals had been noticed. Two 

 days of idleness had made everybody on board anxious to get out in 

 the boats. In the afternoon the wind fell to a calm, and the boats were 

 put over in latitude 58 27' north, longitude 172 46' west, and remained 

 out until evening, bringing in only three seals. Very few were seen 

 from the boats, although they covered considerable ground during the 

 day. Seals were equally scarce in the vicinity of the vessel; only six 

 were observed. One of these, more bold than the rest, kept circling 

 around the vessel, coming nearer each time. Finding that it was inclined 

 to be inquisitive, it was encouraged to make further investigations as 

 to what we were by continual whistling by those on board. It was 

 finally enticed alongside and captured, the spear passing through one 

 of its hind flippers. A series of photographs showing all the different 

 positions the seal was in during its struggle for liberty would have been 

 valuable. It fought bravely for life while in the water, but on being 

 hauled on board its power was greatly lessened. It did not, however, 

 give up without a desperate struggle to regain its liberty. At one 

 period of the fight it drove everybody from the main deck, and it was 

 only when a noose was thrown over its neck and its head hauled down 

 to a ring bolt that terms of peace could be made, which was by knock- 

 ing in on the head. The catch of seals for the day was 4 3 females and 

 1 male; the total catch to date 6i) 13 males and 56 females. 



The next day (llth) the boats made an early start. Everything 

 looked favorable for a good day's hunt, the wind being light and the 

 sea smooth, two things which are almost indispensable in seal hunting. 



