222 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



other, others again wake those which are asleep, or sport in the sea. Those born in 

 June or July lie in a large herd encircled by the mothers, or frolic in the water if they 

 have learned to swim. A grown male never purposely bites or injures a pup. 



The taking of the fur seals commences in the latter days of September. A chilly, 

 disagreeable day is selected for the purpose, when the wind is blowing against that 

 quarter where the animals are lying, so that they may not discover the approaching 

 sealers. Such weather setting in, the entire gang, old and young, men, women, and 

 children, proceed to the hauling ground of the animals. All circumstances are minutely 

 examined and taken into consideration before commencing work. The most courage- 

 ous hunters, practiced in running over stones and rocks, lead the way, walking in 

 single file, followed by the old people and the children; last of all comes tlie chief of 

 the expedition, suiiervisiug and directing the entire party. All, without exception, 

 are armed with clubs. The intent of such an attack is to cut oft' from the sea, as 

 rapidly as possible, all animals on shore, and to drive them from the beach into the 

 interior of the island. Halting a short distance from the shore, the old males are 

 separated from the females and young, the former being driven back aiul liberated. 

 The old females which have experienced several attacks return to the breeding places 

 as soon as they detect an open passage, but the younger ones must be driven oft". It 

 frequently happens that they return again shedding large tears while searching for 

 their slaughtered young. The sikatchi and old females having been removed, the 

 others, divided into small squads, are carefully driven to the place where they are to 

 be killed, sometimes more than 10 versts distant. Such a march, however, is very 

 laborious for the seals and so long a journey can not therefore be completed in one day 

 without being injurious to them. As their progression is eftected by leaps and not at a 

 walking pace many of them would meet their death on the road from overexertion. 

 They are, therefore, permitted to halt frequently, when the (]uite young animals will 

 immediately fall asleep. When brought to the killing grounds the seals are rested for 

 an hour or more, according to circumstances, and then killed with a club. 



The <iuite young seals, that is to say, those only 4 months of age, are killed without 

 exception. Of those 1 year old the males are separated from the females and killed, 

 while the latter are driven cautiously back to the beach. The 2 and 3 year old animals 

 (holostiaki) are treated in a similar manner. All sikatchi are allowed to live. 



The meat of the young seal is rather palatable and is used for food, both fresh and 

 salted. The skins are taken oft', dried, and sent to Russia. The mothers of the killed 

 animals swim about the island during the following two or three days or more in 

 search of their young, crying mournfully. 



About the 5th of October, sometimes earlier, the sea bears leave the island in the 

 same manner as they arrive, and always with a northerly or northwesterly wind. The 

 quite young animals which have succeeded in escaping the sealer's club remain longer 

 on the island than the rest, and are often seen after all others have left. Sometimes 

 old sikatchi have been observed on the island during November and even in December, 

 but during January and February not a single animal of this species is ever seen. It 

 very seldom happens that two or three sikatchi appear in March, but only for a short 

 time. 



Since the discovery of the islands of St. Paul and St. George — that is, from the 

 year 1786 until 1833 — 3,178,562 fur seals have been taken there. At present the skin 

 of a young fur seal is worth 25 to 30 rubles in the Siberian market. 



