ABUNDANCE OF MARINE LIFE. 301 



Two seals were observed in the forenoon. Fear noon we ran into an area of discolored 

 water, in latitude 55° 20' north, longitude 171° 25' west, in which were a number of 

 seals. Notwithstanding the very rough condition of the sea and the moderate gale 

 prevailing, several of them were asleep. Their bodies were but little exposed, and it 

 was only when we were quite near them that they could be made out. The gale 

 finally broke, and in the morning of September 15 only a light variable air was 

 moving. The sea had also gradually gone down with the wind. At 7.30 a. m. several 

 seals were observed and the canoes Avere lowered. Two sleepers were captured a 

 short distance from the vessel. At 11a. m., however, a heavy fog and mist settled 

 down, accompanied by a cold wind from the northwest, which had the effect of bring- 

 ing back the hunters, all of whom were on board at 1.30 o'clock, having captured 24 

 seals — 16 males and 8 females. Pieces of squid were found in the stomachs of some of 

 them. Fourteen of the males were very small, and 2 between 4 and 5 years old. The 

 females were larger, 5 being with milk. The hunters reported seeing a large number 

 of seals rolling and finning. 



Numerous birds and a great many whales were in sight all day. At noon we were 

 in latitude 55° 10' north, longitude 170° 06' west, which was not far from the position 

 where we had taken 157 seals on August 26 and 146 on August 27. The color of the 

 water varied but little on these dates, the strips of discoloration also running in 

 the same general direction. It would appear as though these bands of discolored 

 water were governed chiefly by the currents, being but little affected by the wind. 

 Late in the day the fog gave way to occasional rain squalls. Birds were exceedingly 

 abundant, and we frequently sighted scattered seals, the most of which were playing. 

 In the evening several hail squalls passed over, after which the sky cleared. 



Preparations were made to lower the canoes on the following morning, but the 

 work was interrupted by the sudden breezing up of the wind from the westward. In 

 the afternoon the clear weather suddenly changed to mist and rain, with an occasional 

 squall. Only 2 seals were seen, 1 asleep and the other playing. A canoe was lowered 

 for the "sleeper," but it was lost sight of in the choppy. sea. Whales and birds were 

 plentiful all day, and in some places immense flocks of petrel were sitting on the water. 

 They were evidently feeding on small marine organisms, for as soon as we had jogged 

 past they would settle down in the same spot from where they had been frightened. 



Early in the evening a sealing vessel passed to windward with her flag set, 

 indicating that she was homeward bound. The sight of this vessel put the Indians in 

 high glee, for the season was now getting late and they were anxious to go home. 



On September 17 the weather was a repetition of that of the previous day. In the 

 early part of the day we saw 9 seals circling around in various directions and 

 occasionally rolling and finning. Observing this number of seals from the vessel with 

 a choppy sea; running was a good indication that under better conditions they would 

 be found plentiful. At noon the weather showed signs of moderating, but the Indians 

 could not be induced to venture out on account of a few squally looking clouds low on 

 the horizon. At 2 p. m. two white hunters started out, but after a two hours' hunt 

 they returned empty handed. Only 4 seals had been seen, 3 finning and I asleep. 

 At the time the boat left the vessel the water was comparatively clear, but about 3 

 miles to the northwest it came into very much discolored water, in which birds were 

 plentiful and a few fish were seen jumping. 



Early in the following morning, September 18, the canoes were lowered, the wind 

 being light from the southeast and tlie sea smooth. The barometer indicated no 



