INDIAN HUNTEES EASILY DISCOURAGED. 289 



several other seals being observed, tlie remaiuing canoes were lowered. During most 

 of tlie time while the hunters were absent numerous birds and whales and several 

 porpoises were observed about the vessel. Early in the afternoon the wind began to 

 increase in force and the canoes to return. By 4 o'clock they were all on board, 

 having secured 20 seals, of which 13 were males and 7 females. The stomachs were 

 nearly all empty, a piece of squid being taken from one and a few fish bones from 

 another. One of the females had lost a hind flipper and shot were found in two of 

 the skins. One of the seals represented by these skins had been recently wounded, 

 the other probably some time early in the spring, the shot being found encysted. All 

 females were in milk; the males were all young bachelors. 



Two vessels, the F. M. Smith and Saucy Lass, were in sight at the time the canoes 

 returned. The captain of the former came on board and reported having taken 105 

 skins. He also said that the schooner Triumph had obtained 283; Maud S., 240; C. D. 

 Band, 100, and the Saucy Lass between 60 and 70. 



On the following morning (August 10) the weather was cloudy and cool. At 7 

 o'clock the canoes and boats started out. At the time of their going the sea was long 

 and rolling and the temperature of the water 2 degrees below that of the air. When 

 the air is a great deal colder than the water experienced huntex'S do not as a rule 

 expect to find many sleeping seals. They state, however, that there are exceptions 

 to this rule, but in most cases extra cold air makes them restless and very dififlcult to 

 approach within spearing distance; but with shotguns they may when in this con- 

 dition be killed with comparative ease. 



In the middle of the forenoon two vessels were sighted. Only one seal was 

 noticed from the vessel. This individual was "mooching," a term used by the hunters to 

 indicate swimming at the surface of the water with only a very small i)ortion of the 

 body exposed, occasionally thrusting the head out far enough to breathe. Seals fre- 

 quently swim this way on raw, cold days, when they may readily be shot with guns, 

 but are not easily approached with spears. 



At 2 p. m. the Indians began to return, much earlier than they should have done, 

 having lost i^atience and become discouraged. They lack the persistence and judg- 

 ment of the white hunters, and will give up the chase on the slightest i^retext. The 

 latter, on the contrary, will remain out as long as a chance remains of adding another 

 skin to their catch. One hunter, however, had secured 14 seals, the largest catch of 

 any one canoe since entering the sea. The total number of seals in the day's catch 

 was 73, 18 being males and 55 females. Their stomachs, like those previously 

 examined, contained but little food ; only a few pieces of fish and fish bones were 

 found. In one of the canoes 3 female seals had been skinned; of those brought on 

 board 3 were without milk. When asked if the seals skinned in the canoe were in 

 milk, the Indians said they had not noticed. If the condition of the seals had been 

 observed the same answer would have been given, for as soon as these Indians learn 

 that certain information is wanted they are very reticent, and but little dependence 

 can be placed in what they do say. Seemingly, they have been taught to look with 

 suspicion on every person in search of sealing data. 



The canoes that went to the northwest of the vessel were more successful than 



those that went in other directions, and the one that brought in the 14 seals hunted 



about 6 miles to the northwest of all the other canoes in that locality. A great many 



traveling seals were observed, all bound to the northward. Nearly all information 



5947— PT 3 19 



