286 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



force of the wind, tbe barometer reading, and the temperature of the air and water. 

 The temperature of the water was taken 5 feet below the surface. The material 

 found in the stomachs of seals has been labeled with reference to the noon position. 



In the afternoon we passed numerous patches of seaweed and kelp. In a few 

 instances seals were seen with their heads and flippers thrust up tlirough this floating 

 material. Occasionally they would dive and swim a short distance, soon returning 

 to the surface, liowever, rolling over and over in the tangled seaweed, but some- 

 times stopping in their play on the alert for danger. When on sealing ground, 

 hunters always carefully inspect floating seaweed, and, as a rule, if there are seals 

 about, they are almost sure of flnding one or more in each large patch. Late in the 

 afternoon we passed close to such a patch, covering a considerable area, in which 6 

 seals were playing. They paid no attention to the vessel, although within 100 yards 

 of them. A hunter with a shotgun could have captured 2 or ^ of the number, and 

 an Indian with a spear would have secured at least 2. 



At 5 p. ni. the canoes returned with a catch of 42 seals. Tliree of the males were 

 about .") years old, all the others of both sexes being from 2 to 4 years old. Their 

 stomachs were nearly all empty, a few containing some material, whicli, however, was 

 too much decomposed to be identified. The hunters reported seeing but few seals 

 asleep, and these appeared uneasy. Most of those observed awake were finning. No 

 great body of seals had been noticed, and in such pleasant weather, if tliere had been 

 many on the ground, 18 canoes and 2 boats could have picked up 100 or more. 

 Tliis number of boats, traveling, as they do, in a path from 10 to 15 miles wide, must 

 necessarily see nearly every seal within that belt. The few seals seen traveling to-day 

 were going toward the northwest. 



The chief of the tribe reported hearing the discharge of firearms a short distance 

 to windward of his canoe, but he could not tell to what vessel the boat belonged. 



The next day, August 2, the boats were lowered at 7 a. m. Tlie weather bid fair 

 for a successful day's hunt, the wind being north-northwest and light, and the sea 

 smooth. In the early part of the forenoon we jogged close to 3 seals playing. I^>e- 

 quently they would roll over several times, stop suddenly to scratch themselves, and 

 stand upon their heads with their hind flippers about 2 feet out of water. Tliey 

 repeatedly performed this oj^eration. When quite near them one of the seals lifted 

 its Lead up, but the sight of the vessel caused no alarm. Having no boat to lower 

 or spear to throw, a loud noise was made by shouting and beating upon a tin can. 

 This did not have the effect of frightening them, but a light thump on tlie rail of the 

 vessel caused them to dive instantly, and when next seen they were about 200 yards 

 away. Pausing to look at the object which had frightened tliem, they then swam 

 rapidly away in an easterly direction. 



From the above it would appear that seals are ordinarily but little frightened by 

 the presence of vessels, provided they are to leeward of them. Had we been on the 

 windward side the seals would have taken alarm almost instantly, and would cither 

 have dived or swam rapidly away. 



At 1 p. ra. a heavy fog bank appeared in the northwest, and shortly afterwards the 

 canoes and one boat returned. The other boat had evidently gone astray, but as the 

 weather was smooth no great anxiety was entertained for her safety. Forty-five seals 

 were brought on board, 26 being males and 19 females. All the females except 2 were 

 with milk. Their stomachs were mostly empty. 



