SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 119 



August 15 was marked with pheasant weather in the early part of the 

 day, becoming very squally in the latter part, with rough sea. N'oon 

 j)ositiou, latitude 57° 11' north, longitude 17oO 09' west. 



On August 16 we had variable weather; clear in the niorning, thick 

 and squally in the afternoon, with very rough sea. But few seals were 

 seen. The noon iDOsitiou of the ship was latitude 57° 04' north, longi- 

 tude 1120 30' west. 



At 7 a.m. August 17 made sail and ran to the southward; wind 

 northwest and fresh, gradually decreasing to a light bree/e in afternoon. 

 A heavy fog came in later in the day. Noon ]»osition, latitude 50° 54' 

 north, longitude 172° 45' west. We continued on our course until 8 

 a. m. the next day, when we saw a seal " finning" close by. A boat was 

 quickly manned and started in pursuit, but the seal was on the alert 

 and escaped. Shortly after this a "sleeper" was noticed not far off on 

 the weather bow. Another boat was hoisted out and rowed quietly 

 toward it, no attempt being made to throw the spear until within 20 

 feet. It was easily captured. Its stomach was found to be well filled 

 with food, which was no doubt the cause of its sleeping so soundly. 



Later in tlie day all the boats went out, but returned at the end of 

 three hours with only one seal. The sea was smooth, witli little wind 

 stirring, but the air grew suddenly chilly and the sky very cloudy, 

 which jn-actically ])ut an eiul to the chances of seals sleei)ing for the 

 day. The hunters claimed that had they been provided with guns the 

 day's catch would have been at least 60 or 70 seals. On a day like this 

 when seals showed no inclination to sleep shotguns in the hands of 

 skillful hunters would have done very destructive work. In the early 

 days of jjelagic sealing the hunters sought sleeping seals only, but they 

 have learned the movements of the seal so thoroughly that " travelers" 

 and "tinners" are almost as readily taken as sleeping ones. 



Haud-line fishing was carried on from the vessel in 60 fathoms of 

 water. In one hour 10 cod were caught, their average weight being 

 about 9 pounds. It was estimated that the largest weighed 30 pounds, 

 the smallest 4 pounds. In their stomachs were found small starfish, 

 prawns, squid, medusre, and, a quantity of decomposed fish. 



Unfortunately, this was our last day's hunt, as from this time on we 

 had stormy weather and heavy gales. Eighty-four seals had been 

 taken — 16 males and 68 females. All the females were nursing cows 

 excei)t one, which was a yearling. The last seal caught by the OIsoi was 

 taken in latitude 56° 05' north, longitude 172° 17' west. 



Early in the morning of August 19 the weather was pleasant, with 

 indications of a suitable day for sealing, but shortly after the wind 

 began to freshen from the southeast, gradually increasing in force and 

 hauling to the westward. We lay to under a double-reefed foresail, 

 encountering heavy sijualls at times. Our noon position was latitude 

 55° 39' north, longitude 172° 12' west. 



On August 20 tliere was a heavy gale from the northwest and a very 

 high sea running. We ran before the wind for three hours hoping to 

 escape the heaviest part of it, but no perceptible difference was felt. We 

 then lay hove to until 10 p. m., at which time we again ke])t off before 

 the wind, and ran until 10 a. m. the next day. About this time we saw 

 -several seals, aiul soon after ran close to a bunch containing five, all 

 huddled together. It was evident that they were well tired out, or else 

 they would not have been asleep in such weather. Our noon position 

 was latitude 54° 38' north, longitude 168° 01' west. In the afternoon 

 we sighted several vessels. 



On the 22d we bore away for Fnimak Pass, the wind north-north- 



