RELATING TO ST. PAUL ISLAND. 137 



that if such marking- had been convStantly practiced extensively, as 



might easily have been done precisely as in case of a 



band of cattle on the plains with all the young, it would markln-.^"''^''"' ^^ 



have established their identity and completely shown 



that the seals do not find a home at any place other than that of their 



birth. 



The erection of '^'salt houses" at suitable places for curing the seal 

 skins was one of the earliest works undertaken, and 

 several were erected at points convenient to the larg-- iu^i^f.^g^mellt!'*'''"'^*' 

 est ^'hauling grounds." In addition to this teams 

 were furnished and skins hauled to the salting places or, in other in- 

 stances, they were taken by boats as most convenient, j^ ■ „. 



In tbis manner the necessity for long drives was ob- "ving. 

 viated and the work made easier in all respects. 



The polygamous habit before mentioned naturally results in forcing 

 the young male seals to "haul" from the sea by themselves, which 

 renders their capture less difficult, as they may be driven without dis- 

 turbing the breeding seals with their young. Seals to be killed were 

 usually, and as a rule, driven at night or very early in the morning 

 when the grass or ground was moist with dew or during the prevalence 

 of fog, and was leisurely performed under direction of experienced liunt- 

 ers, hence the animals were spared the fatigue of traveling on dry 

 ground at unwonted speed. 



When not being driven their movements on land are in nowise un- 

 c-ertain or distressing, and they are frequently seen journeying of their 

 own volition from one "rookery" or " hauhng place" to another at 

 considerable distance, especially when singly or in small groups; they 

 catch on a strong wind the scent of a herd at a remote point and set 

 out to join it. In connection with the work of driving the seals at fre- 

 quent intervals it was of special interest to observe that they became 

 less wild or timid, and consequently could be managed more easily in 

 herd. 



The " hauling grounds" nearest the " salt houses" were, as a matter 

 of course, most frequently visited by the hunters. At each time of 

 driving some animals were found too large or too small, or otherwise 

 undesirable, and were allowed to escape from among the "killable" herd, 

 and it was the subject of frequent remark that these 

 seals so frequently driven became accustomed to the ^''^'"'^°«''« »'' ^''^^^■ 

 presence of man, and evidently acquired confidence from the fact that 

 they were not harmed, so far that on being separated from the herd 

 they appeared unconcerned, and not worried or friglitened, but would 

 leisurely return to the place whence driven, and, without taking to the 

 water as is their habit when frightened, would remain until, on the ar- 

 rival of others in sufficient numbers, they were again driven, only to 

 be released and returned as before. 



These repeated drivings did not apparently injure the animals in the 

 least. Injuries through accident resulted at intervals, 

 but most of those were slight, and recovery soon fol- ju^oS^'"^ °'** ™' 

 lowed. That the driving of the seals as practiced, 

 whether more or less frequently, did not result injuriously to the breed- 

 ing, is abundantly proven by the results noted after the hipse of several 

 years. 



Tlie area of "rookeries" constantly expanding was filled with ani- 

 mals evidently healthy and strong; vigorous males were in. abundance, 

 as shown by the increase of young, and by the fact that the number 

 of barren females was not increased. Superannuated males were found 



