Wirta, W. 
1963 
A15P 
- 21 - 
perched in the Pcaevoli or on the rocks along the beach. They almost always 
are in pairs. I was able to catch one, which we banded. 
Bob and I were able to tag 10 seals and I made observations as we moved 
along the beach. 
There are two methods which we have used with moderate success to t g 
the seals. The first simply involves moving quietly up to a sleeping seal 
and clinching the tag in one swift movement. As soon as the seal is touched 
it wakes up with a jerk, and usually turns in a threatening fashion toward 
v 
the intruder. Though this is generally a bluff it is wise to remain on the 
ilert at all times while close to them. Once a seal has been disturbed it 
is useless to try to wait till it relaxes again, for if it does lie back 
down again it will be up th e instant you touch it again, and moe than likely 
it will move off into the water with much huffing and bellowing after the 
first-time it is disturbed. 
The second method is presently only successful with the two of us on 
seals not too much bigger than a couple of hundred pounds. We tried one 
large adult male but it proved more than we could hold and we were forced 
to cut it loose. It is possible to get a noose over the head of a sleeping 
animal, or with some effort, even over the head of one which is wake and 
already moving down the beach. Once the noose is over the head it must be 
quickly tightened, as it must be set below the j ws and the skull, and must 
not be allowed to ride down over the fore flippers. On some of the larger 
seals it is difficult to set the noose on the neck because it is so lirge 
