362 TESTIMONY 



(!ompass, an amininntion box for the luiiiter, a water-beaker, a box for 

 food, a small sprit sail and mast, and at least one sliotgun. 



Vessels that are manned by Indians do not carry bunting- boats as a 

 rule. The Indians furnish their own canoes and spears, and often a 

 shotgun or ritle, or both. A vessel, say, of 70 tons, will carry six boats, 

 five of thein hunting boats, and one at the stern. The owner furnishes 

 gnus, ammunition, boats, food, etc., and engages the captain and hunt- 

 ers. The captain enrploys the boat pullers, steerers, and the crew, 

 though in some cases the hunters engage their own pullers and steerers. 

 A vessel of this size would carry twenty-one men, all told, including a 

 captain, mate, cook, five hunters, nine mentor the boats, one spare man, 



and a boy. The master's wages range from $75 to $100 

 ^^°^^- per month; but some of them get wages only, while 



others have wages and a "lay," that is, a share of the profits. Good 

 hunters get from $3 to $3.50 per skin for every one they bring on board; 

 but each hunter has his price and makes terms with the owner, which 

 he keeps to himself. The crew receive $30 per month, and have some- 

 times a private agreement with the hunter to 10 to 25 cents additional 

 out of his own pocket for each skin brought on board; for, as I have 

 said, much depends upon the steerer, and each has his favorite. Tlie 

 mate gets from $45 to $50 per month, the use of the stern boat, and $1 

 for every skin he brings on board. The cook receives froni $50 to $80 

 per month, according to the number of men he cooks for. 



The first vessels leave about January, and from then 

 <- inland route "tikeu! i^i^til March they are becoming fewer in port every day. 



They go to some of the bays and inlets upon Vancou- 

 ver'slsland, off Cape Flattery, or down along the California coast. Many 

 hunt in a circuit from Cape Flattery to the mouth of the Columbia 

 River on the south, and to the north end of Vancouver's Island on the 

 north, as the head hnuter or captain may determine. Some thiidf,by 

 going south and following the seals up as they move northward they 

 will catch more; wlule others believe they can do better by staying 



close to Cape Flattery. Those vessels which carry In- 

 um crews. diau huutcrs go to the Indian villages, and some of 



them take as many as fifteen canoes if they can get them. Of late 

 yerrs the Indians are learning the prices of skins, and claim more than 

 the owners can afitbrd to pay. They always want to ship on a first-class 

 schooner, unless they own it, when any rattletrap will do. When 

 they start for Bering Sea they usually leave a part of their canoes 

 behind, taking about one-third less than they used in the spring catch. 

 The vessels furnish them flour, biscuits, tea, coftee, sugar, and a little 

 meat, when they cannot get fresh seal meat. They have two men to 

 each canoe. The head man of the canoe receives the money and pays 

 his assistant. Each canoe is usually provided with a couple of steerers, 

 and either a shotgun or rifle. The most skillful hunter among Indians 

 on board is called " captain," and it is his duty to tell his men when 

 and where to lower their canoes for hunting, and to transact all business 

 between them and the captain of the vessel. Seven or eight years ago 

 the Indians were paid by the length of the skin, but now they are paid 

 by its grade. 



In fine weather the boats leave the vessel at daylight and hunt until 

 dark, taking about one day's provisions with them; and should they 

 get lost in a fog they have a hard time until they are picked up by 

 some vessel. When the boats come alongside the vessel, at night, the 

 skins are counted on deck for each boat; the mate takes charge of 

 them and salts them down in the hold, and the crew of each boat gets 



