300 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



inclined to start. Presently, however, the fog lifted somewhat and several more seals 

 were seen. A signal gun could now be heard, indicating that a sealing vessel was 

 near and that her boats were out. This circumstance Stimulated the hunters to action, 

 and in a short time the canoes were hoisted out. As the fog cleared, birds, whales, 

 and porpoises could be seen to the northwest, and also flocks of petrel on the water 

 close by. The season being now well advanced, the hunters were expected to take 

 advantage of every opportunity, and, moreover, on the strength of their jjrevious good 

 success, they were quite eager to add a few more skins to the number on board. The 

 weather could no longer be trusted for any length of time, and that proved to be the 

 case on this day. At 11 a. m. the fog became so dense that the captain was as anxious 

 to get the hunters back as they were to return. Seventeen seals composed the catch, 

 5 being males and 12 females. Eleven of the females were nursing cows, and the 

 males were all young. One canoe obtained 5 of the number, all of which were asleep 

 and separated just far enough so the noise made in capturing one did not disturb the 

 others. A considerable number of "rollers" and "finners" was noticed, but the 

 damp fog seemed to prevent them from sleeping. Had the day been warm it is 

 probable that a good catch would have been secured. 



In proportion to the number of seals taken, a greater amount of food was found in 

 their stomachs than on any previous occasion. Squid and pollock, mixed with crusta- 

 ceans, composed the greater part of the material identified. Squid beaks were very 

 conspicuous in every stomach in which food was found. As in previous cases the 

 stomachs of the females were much better filled than those of the males. 



The second mate while out hunting had boarded the schooner Triumph, whose 

 gun had been heard earlier in the day. She reported having 1,800 skins. The day 

 before she took 20 skins 30 miles to the eastward of our present position. For the 

 past few days she had been gradually working to the westward, but only a few scat- 

 tered seals had been noticed. To-day her hunters brought in 42 skins. Captain Oox 

 expressed the opinion that if good weather should prevail for a few days encouraging 

 results would follow, as there was every indication that seals were plentiful on this 

 ground. The elements were against us, however, and for the next four days the 

 weather was rough and boisterous. 



On September 11 the wind blew a very fresh breeze, varying in direction from 

 south by east to southwest, accompanied by a rough sea. No seals were seen, but 

 many birds were about. During the night of the 11th and the morning of the 12th 

 the wind increased in force and hauled to the westward. The sky was filled with 

 heavy clouds, the air was raw and chilly. Occasionally we wore ship to hold our 

 position. Scattering petrels and other sea birds ^ere frequently seen, but only one 

 seal was sighted during the day. At sundown the barometer began to rise. In the 

 evening the sky cleared and the stars came out, but the sea continued heavy and was 

 a-ccompanied by a flying scud. 



On September 13 the wind varied in force from a light to a stiff breeze with 

 changeable weather, rain, mist, fog, and rough sea, occasionally clearing. Birds were 

 plentiful, one of which was seen to dive close to the vessel and bring up a fish about 

 10 inches long. In the afternoon 3 seals were observed sleeping side by side the 

 vessel almost running over them before th^y awoke. They must have been much 

 exhausted from loss of sleep in the recent gale. 



In the morning of September 14 the wind had again increased to a moderate gale. 

 The weather was foggy and misty at times, with a heavy, rough, and tumbling sea. 



