170 
Sw1kT SWIMMERS 
CarrTure. 
Uses, 
RE-MIGRATION. 
‘UR SEN Ec Vigle: AL. 
They fwim with amazing fwiftnefs and ftrength, even at the rate 
of feven or eight miles an hour, and often on their back. They 
dive well, and continue a great while under water. If wounded in 
that element, they will feize on the boat, carry it with them with 
great impetuofity, and often will fink it. 
When they with to afcend the rocks, they fix their fore feet on 
them, arch their backs, and then draw themfelves up. 
The Kamt/chatkans take them by harpooning, for they never land 
on their fhore. To the harpoon is faftened a long line, by which 
they draw the animal to the boat after it is fpent with fatigue; but 
in the chafe, the hunters are very fearful of too near an approach, 
leaft the animal fhould faften on and fink their yeffel. - 
The ufes of them are not great. The flefh of the old males is 
rank and naufeous; that of the females is faid to refemble lamb; of 
the young ones roafted, a fucking pig. ‘The fkins of the young, cut 
out .of the bellfes of the dams, are efteemed for cloathing, and are 
fold for about three fhillings and four pence each; thofe of the old 
for only four fhillings. 
Their re-migration is in the month of September, when they depart 
exceffively lean, and take their young with them. On their re- 
turn, they again pafs near the fame parts of Kamt/chatka which they 
did-in the fpring. Their winter retreats are quite unknown ; it is 
probable that they are the iflands between the Kurili and Fapan, of 
which we have fome brief accounts, under the name of Compagnie 
Land, States Land, and Jefo Gafima, which were difcovered by Martin 
Uriel in 1642*. It is certain that by his account the natives ém- 
ploy themfelves in the capture of Seals}. Sailors do not give 
themfelves the trouble of obferving the nice diftinétion of fpecific 
marks, we are therefore at liberty to conje€ture thofe which he faw 
* He failed from the eaft fide of Fapan in the thip Cafricom, vifited the ifle of Fe/o, 
and difcovered the iflands which he called Srates Land and Company Land, the laft not 
very remote from the moft fouthern Kurilj illand, Recueil de voy, au Nord, iv. te 
+ The fame, 42. 
