118 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 
moment the seals were ready to move on apparently refreshed. Continuous exertion is evidently hard 
on them, but they quickly recover from exhaustion. As soon as the flock comes to rest for a few 
moments’ breathing, they begin to bite one another and push in an unconcerned fashion until they are 
reminded by the absence of their companions that they must keep moving. 
The seals were not urged forward, but were allowed to take their own time. When the herd 
was brought to rest for a few minutes, the rear driver started them on by clapping his hands or by 
rattling a stick on arock. Our presence evidently urged the seals, and made the drive really harder 
than it would ordinarily have been. The Aleuts seem to have a way of handling the seals that they 
understand. 
A short distance brought us to the end of the grassy plain and into an area of ground filled with 
embedded bowlders, These were for the most part flat and worn smooth. It looked like hard ground . 
for the seals, but in reality they seem to get over it better than the flat ground. On the flat there 
was constant crowding, while here the rocks kept the seals apart. The animals are really more 
familiar with the rocky ground, their breeding rookeries with few exceptions being on the rocky 
beaches. 
After passing over aslight ridge, where the passageway became narrowed by projecting cliffs and 
where there was a good deal of crowding and scrambling, the drive left the bowlder-strewn path and 
passed into a valley overgrown with tall Elymus grass and lying between rows of sand dunes also 
grass-grown. ‘The seals seem to be refreshed by the moisture of the grass, which was wet with dew 
and rain. 
This grassy plain led into the top of the bowlder-set slope above Zoltoi sands, from which the 
earlier seals were driven. The seals passed down this slope without difficulty and came into the level 
sand flat. Here the first really hard work of the drive began. Theseals seemed to find their greatest 
difficulty in walking on the yielding sand. Their flippers take hold of the rocks like rubber, but slip 
back in the sand. No rocks prevented the animals from crowding. They stepped on each other’s 
flippers, became much excited, and seemed generally worried. 
But in a few minutes the sands were passed and the herd emerged into the grass-grown killing 
ground. As soon as the seals came to a standstill, they seemed to forget their troubles. At once 
they began biting, snarling, and blowing at one another as though nothing had happened. They 
were then turned into the little lake beside the killing ground to cool off, and were herded up on 
the bank to rest until their turn came to be killed. 
It was 5 minutes after 5 when the first herd reached the killing ground. The second arrived 
three-quarters of an hour afterwards, having taken more time on the way. 
THE KILLING. 
After the seals have sufficiently rested and cooled off the killing is begun. The 
large drove of animals is put in motion in the direction of the spot where the killing 
is to begin. Two men close in on the moviug animals and cut off a small pod of from 
twenty-five to fifty, turning the main body back. This small group is driven up 
within reach of a number of men armed with clubs, These “cull” out the “killable” 
seals (3-year-olds, large 2-year-olds, and small 4-year-olds) by striking them on the 
head, allowing the nonkillable seals (yearlings, small 2-year-olds, and all “wigged” 
seals) to escape and make their way back to the sea. As soon as one pod is knocked 
down, a second is cut out and driven up. This process is continued until the drove 
is exhausted. 
THE ALEUTS. 
-The operations of the killing ground are carried out by the Aleuts, under the 
immediate direction of the native chief, who is in turn subject to the direction of the 
agent of the lessees. The latter supervises the clubbing and indicates the proper 
grade of animals to be selected. The drives are authorized by the agent of the 
Government, and he is required to be present on the killing grounds to look after the 
interests of the Government as the owner of the herd. 
