Umnak Passes iinder favorable conditions, a north, west wind and a moderate 

 sea, a fevi/ seals were observed; in each case only single individuals were 

 seen and those seemed to be eq.ually divided botwoon adults, yearlings and 

 pups. No seals woro taken by the nativc^huntors at Kashcga, Macushiu or 

 Akutan this yoar during October, 



■ The first seal scon in Unalaska Bay this yoar was on October 21st J 

 and but five had been seen in the bay up to the end of October, A record 

 kept at Unalaska for tho past twelve years shows the average date of Uio 

 first appearance of seals in the bay to bo October 24th, and tho average 

 date of tho last appearance to be January 1st., the earliost and latest 

 dates being respectively October 18th and January 4th. During strong 

 gales, tho pups come into the bays in tho vicinity of the passes for ■':^:\. 

 temporary shelter. This fact doubtless gave rise to the belief that the 

 adults and pups travel separately when leaving Bering Sea — a belief 

 that has no foundation in fact. 



The season during which the seals use the passes to the west of 

 Unalaska (Four Mountain and Umnak) ends about Docembor 1st, one month. 

 earlier than in tho passes to the east of Unalaska Islando Tliis un- 

 doubtedly is due to cold westerly and north westerly gales which occur 

 in December and the seals' dislike to traveling against wind and sea as 

 shown by tho testimony of all natives. They can go from the Pribilof 

 Islands to the passes east of Unalaska Islands (Ak-^^tan, Unimak and False) 

 with a fair vJind, v:hile to reach the passes west of Unalaska Island, they 

 have almost continual strong head v/inds ajid seas to contend with after 

 the end of November, 



About the end of December, a little more than two months from the 

 time the first seals appear in the passes going from Boring Sea into the 

 Pacific, the main body of the herd nay be considered cut of Bering Sea, 

 although some reasons seals are soon in tho passes as late as the 12th 

 of January, The close of the migrating season varies a few days from 

 year to year, according to the condition of the weather, an early approach 

 of winter causing en early southward movement of the seal herd and the 

 contrary. In about the sane time that the main body of the herd has 

 occupied in going through the passes and before the last of it is fairly 

 through, the first part of the herd has made its appearance upon the 

 coasts of California and Oregon, having travelled a dj. stance of more than 

 two thousand miles, more than double the distance made at any other part 

 of the route in the same tlno. In view of all tho circumstances, the 

 stormy condition- of the soaj^ tho prevalence in the Pacific of heavy 

 easterly gales, the seals' dislike to swimning against wind and soa, tho 

 delay necessarily caused in obtaining food, tho fact that a portion of the 

 migrating herd consists of pups not yet six months of age and considering 

 further tho rate of speed at which seals travel on other parts of the 

 route, they being five months and a half from January 1st to until lune 

 15th making the return trip from the coast of California to the Aleutian 

 Island Passes, following the coast line which increases the distance about 

 one-third, it is evident that the seal herd after leaving the passes makes 

 its way to the coasts of tho Pacific States v/ithout unnocossary delay. 

 The part of "Qio hard which first goes out through tho passes takes a more 

 southerly route than those that go later. But a small part of the entire 

 herd goes to tho coasts of California, and Oregon, Ifcny seals reach the 

 coast farther north, some of those going out tlirough the passes last 



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