REPORT OF CAPT. HOOPER, DATED NOVEMBER 21, 1892. 233 



the month of August observing the seals in Bering Sea, and in addi- 

 tion the cruise just completed, covering October and a part of Novem- 

 ber. 



As stated elsewhere, in making the passage from Puget Sound to 

 Unalaska in January, 1886, I passed entirely through 

 the seal herd then making its migration to the " coast." Mode of traveling. 

 I have cruised in Bering Sea seven seasons including 

 the present, and have many times been along the coasts of California, 

 Oregon, and Washington during the months that the seals are present. 

 I have at all times in Bering Sea, in the Pacific Ocean, and in the 

 Aleutian Island passes seen seals traveling singly or in twos and threes ; 

 frequently a young male, female, and pup are seen together, the only 

 exception to this being when they haul out upon floating patches of 

 kelp. In Bering Sea I have often seen a dozen or twenty seals upon 

 one patch of drift kelp apparently resting. If disturbed, however, 

 they spring into the water and separate, entirely regardless of each 

 other. From my own observations and what information I can gather 

 from all sources, I believe that upon leaving the islands in the fall the 

 seals are entirely independent of each other, each following its own 

 inclination, and that the small groups of twos and threes sometimes 

 seen are but temporary and more accidental than otherwise. 



The coast of the Pacific States is the destination of the herd after 

 leaving the passes and a milder climate and the small 

 fish that infest the rivers in the spring the incentives. Destination of herd. 

 The southern limit of the range of the herd being de- 

 termined by individual likes is reached by but a small part of the entire 

 herd. Up to the time of reaching the coast the seals are very much 

 scattered. After reaching the coast and while following it along to the 

 northward the scattered seals close up somewhat and assume at times 

 something the character of a herd or band. This, however, is but acci- 

 dental. If disturbed they always scatter in all directions instead of 

 moving off in one direction, as do walrus, sea-lion, porpoise and other 

 animals that are known to travel in bands or schools. 



On November 10th the Corwin left the vicinity of the passes and 

 shaped a course for San Francisco. No seals were seen on that day. 

 On the following morning in lat. 51° 49' N. long. 160° 26' W. one 

 seal, apparently a yearling was seen, and on the morning of the 12th in 

 lat. 50° 08' N., long. 156° 40' W. what was believed to be a pup seal 

 was seen — the only seals seen during the passage although a good 

 lookout was kept at all times. 



I inclose herewith an affidavit covering the main points contained in 

 this statement. 



Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



C. L. Hooper, 

 Captain U. S. B. If., ComWg. 



State op California, 



City and County of San Francisco, ss: 

 On the twenty-second day of November in the year one thousand 

 eight hundred and ninety-two, before me, Alvan Flanders, a notary 

 public in and for said city and county, residing therein, duly commis- 

 sioned and sworn, personally appeared C. L. Hooper, captain U. S. R. 

 M. commanding, known to me to be the person described in, whose name 

 is subscribed to, and who executed the within instrument, and he ac- 

 knowledged to me that he executed the same. 



