184 



FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



July 10, 1890. — The following are field notes of the podding and club- 

 bing of a drive made from every section of the Eeef and Gar botch, 

 July 10, 1890: 



Whole number of animals driven, 3,246; number taken, 377, or 89 

 per cent rejected. 



The last drive from this i)lace and killing was made on the 5th instant, 

 and was not tallied by myself. I was over to examine Otter Island 

 while the killing was in progress. Five hundred and twenty-six skins 

 were taken, however, with the standard lowered to 5i-pound skins, and 

 as I looked at the drove in waiting on the killing grounds that morning 

 I estimated that there were at least 4,000 animals in it. 



On the 1st of July a drive of some 2,000 animals was made from this 

 place, and with the higher standard, the original standard, 245 skins 

 were taken. That standard applied to-day would have cut the catch of 

 377 down to less than 200; more likely to 150. As the clubbing pro- 

 gresses noic, every 2-year-old holluschak, from average size up, is taken 

 to the 5-year-olds and '■'• wigged'''^ 4-year-olds. The "short" 2-year-olds 

 and the yearlings escape. The standard used on the 11th of June, by 

 which nothing under a good 3-year-old skin was taken, if followed 

 to-day, through the podding and clubbing of the 3,246 driven seals 

 above itemized, would not have given the lessees more than 80 sMns ! 



