292 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



was very much discolored, signs now looked upon as favorable indications for a suc- 

 cessful day's hunt. 



At 4 p. m. the boats began to return, and by 6 o'clock they had all arrived except 

 one. The day proved fairly successful, 99 seals having been taken — 31 males and 68 

 females. Nine was the highest catch and 1 the lowest by a single boat or canoe. 

 They were by far the largest seals yet obtained, only 8 of the females being under 3 

 years of age. All of the stomachs were examined, but only 10 of the number con- 

 tained food — some a small amount of liquid matter and others Alaskan pollock and 

 what appeared to be pieces of cod. 



In the evening the wind began to freshen from the east- southeast, and later the 

 stars were visible for the first time since we had entered the sea. All through the 

 night the wind was fresh, causing a choppy sea by ujorning. During this time we 

 had worked 20 miles to the westward. A sharp lookout had been kept for the miss- 

 ing canoe, and a torchlight was displayed at frequent intervals. 



No boats were lowered during the day, the conditions being unfavorable. The 

 wind did not blow hard at any time, but was strong enough to prevent the seals from 

 sleeping. In the afternoon we spoke the schooner Louis Olsen^ which had taken 30 

 seals the day before. At 4 p. m. we attempted to sound in latitude 55° 15' north, 

 longitude 1G8° west, but got no bottom, although we were close to the edge of the 

 bank. Just before dark a young seal came alongside and began to ])lay about the 

 vessel, first on (me side and then on the other, affording great amusement to the 

 Indians. After a good many wild throws it was captured and proved to be a female. 



On August 17 a fairly good day's work was accomplished. Light airs prevailed 

 from southeast and east southeast, with frequent calms. Light fog and showers 

 occurred several times during the day, but they were not heavy enough to prevent 

 seals from sleeping. Early in the morning a young seal came alongside and was 

 taken. At 6 a. ni. all the canoes were lowered; after their departure no seals were 

 seen from the vessel. Early in the afternoon a canoe belonging to the scliooner San 

 Jose boarded us and reported that vessel as having 530 skins. At 7.30 p. m. our 

 hunters returned, bringing 85 seals — 28 males and 57 females. All of the females 

 were exceptionally large; the males were all young bachelors from 4 to 5 years old. 

 A careful examination was made of the stomachs, only (> of which contained food. In 

 one stomach was found small pieces of s(iuid; in the others small bones and pieces 

 of fish. The catch to-day was not very evenly distributed among the boats, the 

 highest bringing in 14 and four 1 each. 



On August 18 the wind was from the southeast by south to south-southwest, 

 decreasing from a stiff to a gentle breeze. Tlie sea was choppy in the morning, and 

 a hmg rolling swell prevailed in the afternoon. The weather was foggy and variable, 

 all of which conditions were unfavorable for sealing. At noon there were signs of 

 clearing up, and shortly after that the canoes were lowered in latitude 55° 51' north, 

 longitude 108° 32' west. The Indians had no great desire to go out, and probably 

 would not have ventured had it not been that the schooner Willard Alnsworth was a 

 short distance away and had already lowered her boats. Five other vessels were also 

 in sight. At the pnd of three hours the hunters returned, having secured only 2 seals — 

 1 male and 1 female. Very few seals had been seen, the only " sleepers " being the 2 

 that were captured. The others were traveling in various directions. 



