224 



THE FUE SEALS OF THE PEIBILOP ISLANDS. 



where she was seized in the vicinity of the Pribilof Islands. In 1885 the average 

 catch for Canadian vessels sealing on the I^orthwest coast and Bering Sea was over 

 1,600 skins per vessel, the average per vessel for the Northwest coast being but 547 

 skins. Since this time it has decreased rapidly, the catch for 1897 averaging only 149 

 seals per vessel. The greatest annual catch in the Northwest coast region was that 

 of 1892, when 46,642 seals were taken. 



The first pelagic sealing in Bering Sea was probably that done in 1880, when 

 nearly 500 seals were taken by Captain Kathgard, of the schooner SanDiego^ 39 tons. 



For a number of years the San Diego, with other vessels, had been engaged in 

 walrus hunting along the northern shore of the Alaska Peninsula, and in 1880 Captain 

 Kathgard began taking seals, the hunting being done from two boats. 



The success attained led Captain Kathgard to Continue seal hunting the following 

 year, 1881, when he procured 950 seals with three hunting boats. The seals taken on 

 this cruise were worth $10 each. Several thousand dollars' worth of walrus products 

 were obtained on the same voyage. Captain Kathgard practiced pelagic sealing in 

 Bering Sea for two or three years before it was taken up by anyone else. In 1883 the 

 schooner City of San Diego, 48 tons, procured 2,500 skins in Bering Sea, and along the 

 Northwest coast.' In 1884 the hunting of walrus was practically given up, and all the 



! ' Bandom extracts from log of Amerioa/n schooner City of San Diego, 1883, D. McLean, Master. 



Sate. 



Lat- 

 itude. 



Longi- 

 tude. 



Seals. 



Date. 



Lat- 

 itude. 



Longi- 

 tude. 



Seala, 



Mar. 30., 



1883. 



Apr. 

 May 



ay 



N.. 

 37 55 

 47 23 

 61 04 



W. 

 125 30 

 127 24 

 131 45 



1883. 



July 17 



July 19 



July— 



55 34 

 55 40 

 55 00 



W. 

 163 30 

 169 12 

 169 00 



Catchfor whole season, 2,500. 



vessels hitherto resorting to Bering Sea for that purpose engaged in sealing. Most 

 of the vessels began their work in the winter time on the Northwest coast, gradually 

 following the seal herd northward. In February, 1886, the Sa,n Diego began sealing 

 at the Farallone Islands, California, and followed the seal herd all the way to Bering 

 Sea, where the vessel was seized by the United States Government. Captain Kath- 

 gard's catch iaveraged about 1,800 seals a year with three hunting boats, until his 

 vessel was seized, when he went out of the business. From. 1884 on it was the custom 

 for sealers to begin the season's work on the Northwest coast and finish in Bering Sea. 



At this time there were 34 vessels sealing in Bering Sea. The seals were taken 

 from late in June to early in September, the catch frequently being 1,200 to 1,500 seals 

 for vessels carrying from four to six boats. 



Vessels were then being built especially for pelagic sealing, and the number of 

 hunting boats carried was gradually increased. The catch of seals was over 27,000 

 in 1891, sealing not being permitted in Bering Sea from that time until 1894, when 

 31,585 seals were taken — an average per vessel of 853. The greatest annual catch for 

 Bering Sea was made in 1895, when 59 vessels procured 44,169 seals. In 1897 16,464 

 seals were taken, the average per vessel being 588. Since 1894 sealing in Bering Sea 



' This vessel should not be confused with the schooner City of San Diego, which was built in 1881, 

 and first entered Bering Sea as a sealer in 1883, 



