REPORT OF CAPT. HOOPER, DATED AUGUST 17, 1892. 213 



year old male, with an empty stomach. Half an hour later the Ranger 

 came in and anchored near; sent the hunter out in the otter boat with 

 instructions to run off 10 miles in a northerly direction and kill a few 

 seals for examination. During the afternoon, in company with Captain 

 Nichols, of the Ranger, and Mr. Town send, naturalist, and 3rd Lieut. John- 

 ston, of the Cor win, I went on shore to examine the rookery at Northeast 

 Point. We found the rookeries inhabited largely by 

 pups and one and two year old seals, the nursing cows p Y isit *° Northeast 

 being away from the island searching for food, and many ° int r °° ery ' 

 of the old seals having changed from the rocky grounds of the breeding 

 rookeries to the sandy beaches in the vicinity; many pups were play- 

 ing in the water, some swimming a short distance away from the shore, 

 and others remaining near the rocks as if afraid to venture too far 

 away. Although parts of the breeding rookeries were deserted at this 

 time, the space occupied by them when all were present is well denned 

 and, compared with the spaces formerly occupied by them, the limits of 

 which are still easily defined, shows the great decrease that has taken 

 place in their numbers. 



At 4 p. m ; the otter boat returned with seven seals. 



The nine seals taken this day were numbered as follows : No. 29 and 

 35, young males; 30, 31, and 33, virgin cows; 32, 31, and 30, nursing 

 cows; 37, old male. The stomach of each was empty, except No. 35, 

 which contained a few small stones. The skins were prepared for 

 mounting for museum specimens. 



The hunter reported seeing the carcass of an old bull with a bullet 

 hole in his head, floating in the water, probably shot by a whaler, as it 

 is not believed that there are any sealers in the sea. About 5 p. m. got 

 under way and steamed around to the anchorage off the village SW. 

 side; on the following morning, August 14th, received on board Special 

 Agent J. Stanley-Brown and his assistant, Mr. Chichester, and the res- 

 ident priest, Father Lesnikoff, for transportation to Unalaska. General 

 Agent Tingle, of the North American Commercial Co., came on board 

 for transportation to St. George Island. Got under way from St. Paul 

 at 9 a. m., and arrived at St. George at 2 p. in., and remained three 

 hours, to enable Special Agent J. Stanley Brown to attend to official 

 business on shore. At 5 o'clock got under way and steered south; 

 moderate easterly wind and fine weather. 



August 15th, steering in a southerly direction all day; saw numerous 

 seals. At 5:30 p. m. passed Bogaslov. At 8 p. m. stopped engine and 

 hove to for the night. 



August 16th, steamed ahead at 3 : 30 a. m. At 5 : 30 a. m. entered and 

 came to anchor in Chernofski Harbor; visited the shore. Special Agent 

 Stanley-Brown took affidavit of the agent of the Alaska Commercial 

 Co. and two Aleuts in regard to pelagic sealing. At 8 a. m. got under 

 way and steamed to Unalaska, arriving at 2 p. m. 



The vessel will be coaled without unnecessary delay and proceed to 

 complete the work assigned to her. Jn obedience to your order the 

 skins of the seals taken up to date, with skulls, stomach, contents, etc., 

 saved, have been delivered to Special Agent J. Stanley- Brown, who will 

 forward them to Dr. C. Hart Merriam, care U. S. Fish Commission, 

 Washington, D. C. 



I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



O. L. Hooper, 



Ca/ptain, U. S. R. M. 



