176 FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



Deduct 24 oveicoiiuted, leaves the whole number of animals driven, 

 1,628; number taken, oiU, o/- 78 per cent rejected. Nothing taken under 

 a 0-pound or ''long" 2-yoar-old skin. 



Thus this drive, iu the very best of the season, shows that 78 per 

 cent had to be rejected. Now, those little fellows, which were turned 

 aside here on the 23d instant, will be out again in a few days to be 

 redriven, ])Ius those that are released today, plus all the rest to be 

 released likewise — they will be all up in July. What will these drives 

 be? Sixteen of the 394 skins taken in the killing grounds, as above 

 cited,were rejected in the salt house by the comi)any's manager because 

 they were too small. They were normal 2-year-olds, 5i-pound skins. 

 Perhaps, they will be glad to get them later. 



In 1872-1874 very little attention was ])aid to driving seals until the 

 12th to the 14th of every June. True it was that bands of thousands of 

 holluschickie were hauled out on the several resorts, yet because these 

 animals were not in comparatively great numbers, and were nearly all 

 down at that early date by the surf margin, it was deemed best to wait 

 until the 12th to the 14th beforebeginning in earnestto drive; but after the 

 14th of June there was always such an abundant supi)ly of holluschickie 

 on hand within a mile and a half of this village and Northeast Point 

 salt house, that no concern was ever given as to the number that they 

 could get. It was just the other way; if it was a warmish, dry day, 

 then a small drive only was made, so as to secure some 1,200 or 1,500 

 skins; if it was a cool, favorable day, then some 2,500 or 3,000 skins 

 would be taken, which latter tigure was the utmost number that the 

 working force at the village could handle under the best circumstances 

 in one day. How dilTerent this year. On the 0th of June the most 

 eager, energetic driving began simultaneously with the arrival of each 

 and every S(iuad of holluschickie big enough to warrant it, and it has 

 been kept u]) unremittingly until the present hour. 



The sjiared seals turned away this morning were saved by their 

 small size. Only 24 of the whole 1,028 in the drive were 5 and year 

 old bulls. Every "long" or well-grown 2-year-old was taken (6-pound 

 skin) and every 3 and " smooth" 4-year old. 



Not a holluschak or any other class of fur seal on Zoltoi sands this 

 morning or noon. I watched the progress of the released seals this 

 morning as they came out over the Lagoon slough and rookery. Most 

 of them swam directly out to sea, not heading in any particular way 

 except from land. A few swam undei- the village hill bluffs, ami thence 

 out across in the direction of the Keef, and a few headed l)ack for Eng- 

 lish Bay. Not one of them started for Zoltoi, as tliei/ did on the :23d 

 instant. On that occasion it was the hauling of some 50 half bulls on 

 Zoltoi that lured, perhaps, the younger seals out after them. They were 

 released together at the same time on the killing grounds. 



This afternoon, I took another survey of Lukannon and Tolstoi, and 

 the vacant hauling grounds of English Bay and the Volcanic Ridge. 

 Another small pod of holluschickie at Middle Hill, from whence they 

 drove last night for the day's killing, and another adjoining the pod- 

 ding cows on tlie sand beach at Polavina: about 250 or 300 iu both 

 pods, and chiefly yearlings. 



June ^8, 1890. — The superb sealing weather still continues. The 

 natives are bringing up a small squad from the Keef as I write 

 (5 a. m.). 



