202 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



No seals had been noticed during the morning, but it does not neces- 

 sarily follow that because none are observed from the vessel they are 

 not about, for frequently it happens that good catches are made when 

 not a seal has been seen from the vessel. This was not one of those 

 exceptional days; 13 was the catch 3 males and 10 cows. Seals had 

 been comparatively plentiful, but were not inclined to sleep and were 

 too wild to approach. A piece of an Alaskan pollock was brought in 

 by one of the hunters, it having been taken from a seal's mouth in the 

 same manner as the two others previously described. The shape of an 

 Alaskan pollock would indicate it to be a fish that could easily escape 

 from a seal. It may be, however, that seals do not select a single fish, 

 but give chase to a body of them after the manner of whales, sword- 

 fish, and sharks, and out of many succeed in capturing one or more. 

 The reason for seals seen on this day being so wild could be accounted 

 for only in one way, they having had little to eat. The stomachs of 

 those taken fully corroborated this theory. A series of trials were 

 made for bottom fish, but with negative results; we seemed to be 

 drifting over barren ground. The noon position on this day was 57 

 42' 38" north latitude; 172 52' west longitude. 



Our pleasant weather was about to be broken for a considerable 

 length of time, for on the 12th the day began with a gale from the 

 southeast, accompanied by a heavy sea. Lay hove to under single- 

 reefed foresail and trysail. In the afternoon spoke with the schooner 

 Teresa, of San Francisco; also saw the schooner Kate, of Victoria, 

 British Columbia, a short distance away. Seals frequently seen all 

 through the day. In the early part of the night the wind increased to 

 a heavy gale, arid in the latter part the wind decreased in force and 

 hauled to the west-southwest. A heavy sea kept up all day. In the 

 forenoon a vessel was sighted low on the horizon. An occasional seal 

 observed; phalaropes numerous. 



August 14: Weather pleasant, but wind fresh from the westward. 

 In the evening boarded the schooner Fawn, of Victoria, British Colum- 

 bia. She reported losing a boat and three men on the 1 1th. (They 

 were afterwards picked up.) The Fawn had an Indian crew and had 

 taken 20 skins in the sea. This news gave our hunters considerable 

 encouragement. Position, latitude 57 37' north; longitude 173 14' 

 west. 



August 15: Pleasant weather in the early part of the day, but very 

 squally in the latter part; sea rough. Latitude 57 II' north; longi- 

 tude 173 09' west. 



August 16 : Variable weather ; clear in the morning, thick and squally 

 in the afternoon; sea very rough. But few seals seen. Noon position, 

 latitude 57 04' north; longitude 172 30' west. 



August 17: At 7 a. m. made sail and ran to the southward; wind 

 northwest and fresh, gradually decreasing to a light breeze in after- 

 noon. A heavy fog came in later in the day. Position, latitude 50 54' 

 north; longitude 172 45' west. Continued on our course until 8 a. m. 

 the next day, at which time saw a seal " finning " close by. A boat was 

 quickly manned and started in pursuit, but the seal was on the alert 

 and soon increased the distance between itself and enemy. Shortly 

 after this a " sleeper " was noticed not far off on the weather bow. 

 Another boat was hoisted out, which was silently rowed toward the 

 coveted prize. No attempt was made by the hunter to throw the spear 

 until the boat was within 20 feet of it. It was easily captured. When 

 opened its stomach was found to be well filled with food, which no 

 doubt was the cause of its sleeping so soundly. 



