136 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIIJILOF ISLANDS. 



advanced it grew wariiier. Whales could be heard blowing through 

 the night, and at daylight a number were seen clothe by; also immense 

 flocks of birds. At ~}.o{) a. m. the liunteis started under very favorable 

 conditions, the sea being smooth and nothing in the atmosphere indica- 

 tive of a change. The wind being very light, the vessel remained in 

 one i»osition most of the day. Numerous seals were observed, both 

 awake and asleej). The former were moving oidy slowly, seldom going 

 over 100 yards, and spending most of the time in linning, rolling, and 

 scratching themselves, in the afternoon we were boarded by the 

 revenue cutter h'ush. At o.oO p. m. the canoes began to return, each 

 one bringing a good catch, tlu' largest amounting to 25 seals, the 

 smallest to 11. The total (;atch was 330. This was a phenomenal day's 

 work, affording the greatest number of seals ever taken in Bering Sea 

 in one day, except that the s(-hoon<»r Sapphire in 1894 captured about 

 •400 in the same length of time. 



There were 1-0 males and I'KI females. The stonuichs of those opened 

 showed a remarkable scarcity of food. The nmterial from 8 males 

 and 10 females was all that was in suitable condition to identify, and 

 consisted chiefly of squid, although jtollock and what looked like cod 

 made u[) a portion of the food i)reserve(l. Taking into consideration 

 the amount of surface life observed from day to day, it has ai[)peared 

 remarkable that so few seals should have food in their stomachs. 



Today both Indian and wliite hunters reporre<l numerous seals, tin- 

 iHug, rolling, and asleep, in the early i)ait of the day they were inclined 

 to be restless, but in the afteriu)on tlu* warm sun caused them to sleep 

 soundly, and so plentiful were they that sometimes it was a hard matter 

 to decide which one to si)ear first. Of course, where seals sleep so near 

 together, those in close ))roximity ro the one spearetl are liable to be 

 disturbed, but there were enough others in the lu^ar vicinity to keep the 

 hunters busy without ])aying much attention to the disturl)e(l ones. 

 They were reported as lying about like logs, as fiw as the eye could reach. 

 The hunters claimed that in all their experience they had never before 

 beheld anything like the sight presented. Snnill scliools of squid, ])ol- 

 iock, and other fish were ])lentiful. One of the white hunters re])orted 

 seeing several Atka mackerel, and fiom the descri])tion given it is jios- 

 sible lu; was correct. The day had been a perfect one for sealing, and 

 no othei' vessels were on the ground. 



During the night we Jogged to the southwest 14 miles. In the morn- 

 ing of Sei>tember li the liunters were out at an early houi-, weather being 

 •clear and pleasant, the sea smooth, and the wiiul light from northeast 

 by north. At 10 a. m. two of the canoes returned, the hunters claindng 

 that the air was too raw and chilly foi- seals to sleej^ well, there being 

 2 degrees difference between the air and water. Only a few scattering 

 seals had been seen, and they were lolling and finning. It was not long 

 before all the canoes returned, bringing altogether 10 seals — males and 

 4 females. Three of the latter were nursing females. Their stomachs 

 were comparatively empty, Avhat little food they contained being of the 

 .same character as <»n the previous day, namely, squid. 



At 4 p. m. an observation of the sun i)laccd us in latitude .~)oO 22' 

 aiorth, longitude 170° 'MV west. At this time we saw several patches of 

 sea weed in which seals were finning and playing. We spoke the 

 schooner Knicrpyhe and learned that she had captured 2.')0 seals on the 

 1st, about 12 miles south of our position. We were also informed that 

 a. number of other vessels had been very successful, which would indi- 

 ■i^ate that tiie seals covered a considerable area on that day aiul were 

 not wholly (confined to our immediate vicinity. 



