118 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



seek the grouuds to the leeward of the group. Seals in a gale take 

 every advantage of wind and sea; it is necessary that they should, for 

 there is evidently a limit to their endurance. 



On the morning of the 10th light winds prevailed, but a choppy sea, 

 combined with a long, rolling swell from the west southwest, rendered 

 it unfit for sealing, although scattering seals had been noticed. Two 

 days of idleness had made everybody on board anxious to get out in 

 the boats. In the afternoon tlie wind fell to a calm, and the boats were 

 put over in latitude 08'^ 27' north, longitude 172° 4G' west, and remained 

 out until evening, bringing in only 3 seals. Very few were seen from 

 the boats, althougli they covered considerable ground during the day. 

 Seals were equally scarce in the vicinity of the vessel, only 6 being 

 observed. One of these, more bold than the others, kept circling 

 around the vessel, coming nearer each time. Finding that it was 

 inclined to be inquisitive its approach was encouraged by continual 

 whistling by those on board. It was finally enticed alongside and 

 captured, the spear passing through one of its hind tlii)pers. It fought 

 bravely for life while in the water, but on being hauled on board its 

 power was greatly lessened. It did not, however, give up without a 

 desperate struggle to regain its liberty. At one period of the fight it 

 drove everybody from the main deck, and it was only when a noose was 

 thrown over its neck and its head hauled down to a. ring bolt that it was 

 mastered and could be knocked upon the head. The catch of seals for 

 the day was 4, 3 females and I male. The total catch to date had 

 been 60, 13 males and 56 females. 



The next day, August 11, the boats made an early start. Everything 

 looked favorable for a good day's hunt, tlie wind being light and the sea 

 smooth — two things which are almost indispensable in seal hunting. Ko 

 seals had been noticed during the morning, but it does not necessarily 

 follow that because none are observed from the vessel they are not about, 

 for it frequently happens that good catches are made under those cir- 

 cumstances. This was not one of those exceptional days, however, the 

 catch amounting to only 13 — 3 males and 10 females. Seals had been 

 comparatively plentiful, but were not inclined to sleep and were too wild 

 to approach. A piece of an Alaskan pollock taken from a seal's mouth 

 was brought in by one of the hunters. A series of trials was made 

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

 barren ground. The uoon 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 the 12th began with a gale from the southeast, 

 accompanied by a heavy sea. We lay hove to under single-reefed fore- 

 sail and trysail. In the afternoon spoke with the schooner Teresa,of 

 San Francisco; also saw the schooner Kale, of Victoria, British Colum- 

 bia, a short distance away. Seals were frequently seen all through the 

 day. In the early part of the night the wind increased to a heavy gale, 

 but in the latter part it 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 was observed. 



On August 14 the weather was pleasant, but the wind fresh from the 

 westward. In the evening we boarded the schooner Fawn, of Victoria, 

 British Columbia, which reported losing a boat and three men on the 

 11th, but they were afterwards picked up. The Fairn had an Indian 

 crew and had taken 20 skins in Bering Sea. This news gave our 

 hunters considerable encouragement. The noon position was latitude 

 57° 37' north, longitude 173° 14' west. 



