36 INTRODUCTTON OF DOMESTIC REINDEER INTO ALASKA. 



had visited the island for many weeks; the mail whih the Thetis 

 brought and the news from the outside world were eagerly received 

 by our exiled friends. Bishop Innocent went ashore without delay 

 in order to hold services; the pealing of the bells of the little church 

 on the hillside that greeted him when he stepped ashore came out 

 to us over the gloomy waters. We could see the natives flocking 

 to church from all directions. 



The following morning a party from the ship went ashore and 

 witnessed a "seal killing." This work is done entirely on land, 

 and has been reduced to a science. The only persons permitted 

 to kill and skin the seals, to the number of the annual quota pre- 

 scribed by the Treasury Department, are the stalwart Aleuts of the 

 islands, who, by life-long practice, have become experts in their 

 profession. 



The first step in the process is to segregate from the main herd 

 some of the j^oung male seals up to the age of 4 years. This is easily 

 accomplished, as it is the hal^it of these ''bachelor" seals to congre- 

 gate upon the mossy ground in the rear of the "rookeries," the 

 groups of seal families that fringe the beach. Crawling between 

 the rookeries and the bachelor seals, the Aleuts drive the latter 

 inland toward the killing ground. Not more than 5 or 6 miles are 

 accomplished in a day, as the seals travel laboriously on land and 

 easily become overheated, thus impairing the quality of their skins. 

 Kainy or overcast weather is chosen for this driving whenever pos- 

 sible. The seals are often allowed to rest overnight in order that 

 they may thoroughly cool off. Occasional whistling by their guides 

 prevents them from straying. In the morning the seal killers appear 

 with their long clubs and sharp knives. Small groups of 20 or 30 

 seal are separated from their companions and the slaughter begins. 

 Any seal which to the ejes of the experienced officials appears to be 

 either above or below the specified age or weight is allowed to scamper 

 off to shore, and plunging into the waves goes rapidly on its way 

 rejoicing. The less-fortunate seals are killed by a sharp blow on 

 the head from a heavy club, which fractures the skull and produces 

 instant death. The men with the clubs are immediately followed 

 by the skinners, who with great dexterity divest the carcass of its 

 valuable skin. The wives and daughters of the natives linger near 

 and carry away to their homes large pieces of seal meat and blubber. 



The skins are taken to salt houses and salted down under heavy 

 pressure; then they are tied in bundles of two each, with the fur side 

 inside, and are ready for shipment. Formerly the company leasing 

 the seal islands was permitted to kill as many as 100,000 seal per 

 annum. Pelagic sealing has so reduced the number of the seal that 

 during the current year the North American Commercial Company, 

 the present lessee of the islands, is limited to 15,000. 



