REPORT OF CAPT. COULSON. 235 



of August one seal boat and outfit, one breech-loading shotgun, with 

 ammunition and all the necessary implements for skinning and preserv- 

 ing the seal taken while prosecuting the work. On the same day Mr. 

 A. B. Alexander, fishery expert, and J. E. Lennan, seal hunter, reported 

 on board for duty to assist in collecting specimens of seals and gather- 

 ing the desired information. I also received from Captain Z. L. Tanner 

 of the Albatross a copy of " instructions for the steamer Albatross," yet 

 to be executed in connection with the seal work in Bering Sea. Being 

 thus equipped we sailed from this port August 3rd for the Pribilof 

 Islands to carry out as fnlly and completely as possible your orders, 

 and at the same time collect all of the data required on the subject. 



After conferring with the special agent on St. Paul and St. George 

 Islands, the East line was taken up on the 6th day of 

 August and we have cruised diligently; substantially Area covered, 

 covering that part of Bering Sea Eastward of the 

 Pribilof Islands from the North to the South points of the compass, 

 and as far away from those islands as in my opinion it was necessary 

 to go. The results of our work are herewith submitted to you for 

 your information, and for transmittal to the proper authorities in the 

 form of statement and tables, viz : 



1st. A chart* prepared under my direction by Lieu- 

 tenant Cantwell, of this vessel, showing the track of Accompanying doc- 

 the vessel, the location of seals, etc. 



2nd. A transcript of the Seal Log kept while engaged in the work. 



3rd. A statement by A. B. Alexander, Fishery Expert, as to age, 

 sex, and condition of the seals taken. On this paper will also be found 

 the certificate of J. E. Lennan, the Seal Hunter, who did the hunting 

 and killing. 



4th. A general statement on which all of the desired data is given in 

 detail. 



Seven seal were killed and taken during the month of August, 

 and the position of each one is given on the Chart, 

 the statement oi Mr. Alexander, and the transcript of 

 the Seal Log. Five other seals were shot at, wounded and lost, thus 

 showing a large percentage of loss. 



The statement of Mr. Alexander who skinned and dissected the seals 

 shows that six of the seven seals taken were females; three of the num- 

 ber nursing cows, three were virgin, and one a male, or 6 to 1. 



None of these seals were taken nearer than 30 miles from St. Paul 

 Island, and the nursing cows at distances of 30, 98, and 110 miles. 



At every station where the vessel was stopped cod- ^. . ., .. „„ , 



r. -, r , . , , ... ,-, 1 -i j Distribution of fish. 



nsh was taken; in some localities they were abundant, 



at others only a few were caught. • 



During the month and while prosecuting the work the vessel has 

 cruised nearly three thousand miles, and in the whole 

 time not one vessel engaged in taking seals has been Mlles crmsed - 

 seen. The weather, as will be noticed by the Seal Log, has been un- 

 favorable for sealing a greater part of the time, added to this the 

 scarcity of seals on the Eastern side of the Pribilof Islands will ac- 

 count for the small number of seals observed or taken and the little 

 information gathered. 



On nearly every point of the compass on which the lines were run 

 the seal herd, or what might be termed numerous 

 seals, were passed at ten miles, and the numbers de- 8e f v a e n d ge of 8eals ob ' 

 creased rapidly, so that at forty miles few seals were 

 seen, and at fifty, on most all of the courses, no signs of seals were 



* See Chart V, Portfolio of Maps and Charts, Counter Case. 



