SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 121 



On March 26, in latitude 38° 39' north, longitude 144° 27' east, a seal- 

 ing boat was discovered bottom up, painted green on the outside and 

 red inside. It had been hove to, with mast, sails, and oars out, for a 

 drag. A shotgun, a " sticking" knife, with the letters " W. B." cut in 

 the handle, and a seal skin were found in it, the skin being considerably 

 decayed. _, 



We spoke the schooners Lillie L., of San Francisco, and Penelope, of 

 San Pedro, on March 28 and 31, in latitude 39° 02' north, longitude 144° 

 44' east. Heavy gales prevailed until the 1st of April. Fair weather 

 continued until the 9th, during which time 210 seals were taken. 

 Stormy weather again came on, which lasted for three days. On May 11 

 spoke with the schooner Casco, of Victoria, in latitude 39° 43' north, 

 longitude 142° 54' east. Very little sealing was carried on until the 18th. 

 On the 19th, two of the boats went astray in latitude 37° 02' north, 

 longitude 140° 03' east, and no tidings of them were obtained until the 

 26th, when the schooner Kate and Ann, of Victoria, was spoken and 

 reported that they had been picked up by the schooner Penelope, of 

 Victoria. 



Sealing was carried on till IMay 3, when a heavy gale came on, which 

 continued until the evening of the 7th, at which time the OUen sailed 

 for Hakodate. In the afternoon of the next day she entered the Straits 

 of Tan gar, and in the evening came to anchor in the above-mentioned 

 harbor. 



On May 16 sealing was again commenced in latitude 40° 55' north, 

 longitude 142° 58' east, when she also spoke with the Dora Slewerd, 

 which reported having 1,300 skins. The following day fell in with the 

 schooner Penelope, and received on board the hunters that went astray 

 on April 19. On May 26 i^icked up a boat and crew belonging to the 

 schooner Enterprise, of Victoria, in latitude 41° 50' north, longitude 

 142° 26' east. The next day spoke with the schooner Umbrina, of Vic- 

 toria, which had taken 2,100 skins. 



Hunting was carried on without interruption until June 10, the total 

 number of skins taken up to date being 1,055. No more hunting was 

 done on the Japan coast. On June 25 the Olsen arrived at Attu 

 Island and on July 15 at Unalaska. 



I was informed by the captain and hunters of the Olsen that full nine- 

 tenths of the seals taken on the Japan cruise were females, and that it 

 is very seldom that a bull is killed. I have since talked with a number 

 of hunters belonging to other vessels, and they all say that the Japan 

 catch of seals consists mostly of females. A few more males are found 

 at the Copper Islands, but the percentage there is small. 



