232 THE FUR SEALS OP THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



HUNTING GBOXJNBS OF THE SEALING FLEET. 



The pelagic sealing fleet frequents four hunting grounds during the year, two in 

 Bering Sea, adjacent to the Pribilof and Commander islands, and two in the Pacific 

 Ocean, off' the American and Asiatic coasts. 



The Pribilof (or "Bering Sea") sealing ground lies to the westward and south- 

 ward of the Pribilof Islands, outside of the 60-mile protected zone. Its northwestern 

 portion is in general about 75 miles wide, its width increasing toward the southeast- 

 ward, where it reaches the Aleutian Islands. 



The Commander (or so-called " Copper Island") sealing ground extends almost 

 around the Commander Islands, its most important part lying to the southward and 

 southeastward, and extending for about 60 miles beyond the 30-mile protected zone. 

 The sealing area to the northward and westward is of less importance. Its northern 

 limit is reached in Ukinsk Bay, at a distance of 200 miles from Bering Island. 



The Japan sealing ground, which during the last four or five.years has been the 

 most important of the Pacific sealing grounds, has its southern limit in about latitude 

 36°, a little to the northward of Yokohama, the northern limit reaching nearly to 

 latitude 46°, opposite Iterup Island. Its southern and central portions are nearly 

 400 miles wide, the northern being quite narrow. Throughout the north and south 

 extent of this area sealing is carried on close to the coast and well into its 

 indentations 



The American (or "Northwest coast") sealing ground extends from the Santa 

 Barbara Islands, California, northward along the coast to Bering Sea, a distance of 

 nearly 3,000 miles. It is divided into three favorite sealing areas. The first extends 

 from about latitude 36° northward to Cape Mendocino; the second and most impor- 

 tant, from Yaquina Bay, Oregon, to the northern end of Vancouver Island; and the 

 third from Sitka to Middleton Island. They are frequently referred to as the "Faral- 

 lon," "Vancouver," and "Pairweather" grounds. Sealing is carried on throughout 

 the entire Northwest coast region, from the Santa Barbara Islands northward, but 

 the most important part of any catch is derived from one or more of the three favorite 

 sealing grounds, on each of which the seals appear to linger for a time during their 

 general movement northward. Since the Paris regulations went into force in 1894 

 there has been no sealing along the southern coast of the Alaska Peninsula. 



Sealing commences off the coast of California about the middle of December, but 

 during this month is limited to three or four San Francisco and San Pedro vessels. 

 The earliest date noted is December 10. In 1894 the Canadian schooner Umbrina 

 took seals during the last week in December 800 miles off" the coast of Oregon, and 

 early in January 1,000 miles oft" northern California. 



It does not appear that seals are taken in December along the coast north of the 

 Farallon ground, and the catch for that month is usually less than 100 skins per 

 vessel. January sealing on the Farallone ground is regularly engaged in by San 

 Francisco vessels, some of these bound for the Japan coast, stopping for a short 

 time off the California coast before taking their final departure. The most southerly 

 catches noted for the American coast were made south of Point Conception in 1896 

 and 1897, In the latter year 764 seals were taken south of the award area, 717 being 

 females. 



Sealing on the Farallon ground continues through Fej)ruary and March. ' Seals 

 are scarce on the Vancouver ground in January, their huntingseldom being attempted 

 before February, while March and April seem to be the best months for this ground. 



