Bear Hunting on Kadiak Island 



that the bears were probably near, having come 

 down to the shore in search of kelp. It promised 

 a pretty fair chance for a shot, but there was ex- 

 ceedingly bad water about, and no harbor for the 

 sloop to lie, so Payjaman and my natives advised 

 me not to make the attempt. As one should take 

 no chances with Alaskan waters, I felt that this 

 was wise, and we reluctantly passed on. 



The next forenoon we put into a large bay, 

 Eagle Harbor, to pick up a local hunter who was 

 to accompany us to Kiliuda Bay, for both my 

 Aleuts and the Russian were unacquainted with 

 this locality. Ignati Chowischpack, the native 

 whose services we secured, was quite a character, 

 a man of much importance among the Aleuts of 

 this district, and one who had a thorough knowl- 

 edge of the country chosen as a hunting ground. 



We expected to remain at Eagle Harbor only 

 part of the day, but unfortunately were storm- 

 bound here for a week. Several times we at- 

 tempted to leave, but each time had to put back, 

 fearing that the heavy seas we encountered outside 

 would crush in the baidarka, which was carried 

 lashed to the sloop's deck. It was not until early 

 on the morning of April 12, just as the sun was 

 topping the mountains, that we finally reached 

 Kiliuda Bay. 



"3 



