94 SPENCER’S JOURNAL 
schooners that could not get within six points of the wind, 
had not room enough in which to tack, and could not get 
through. Only steamers can do it with more or less care; 
but [there are] no lights. Good anchorage to be obtained 
all along. 
Told us that on one occasion he had been captain of 
schooner and on Staaten Island in 14 days had captured 
15,000 hair seals on the beach. Apart from oil, the skins 
brought 10 s. each, salted, in Germany. Schooner belonged 
to Messrs. Brown and Blanchard. On another occasion he 
was in charge of a schooner engaged in fur seal hunting off 
the Falkland Islands. At that time sealing was prohibited, 
and a government vessel kept watch. He left six men on 
Staaten Island and sailed off*to the Falkland Islands. Camou¬ 
flaged the schooner, painting hull green, and decorating 
masts with grass and green foliage so that it was practically 
invisible when up against the land. Got altogether 1,294 
seals, 705 in the first 'knock down’. Sailed away safely for 
Staaten Island, where the six men had been at work. Luckily 
sailed into Vancouver Island unseen, but when there, they 
saw the tops of the masts of the government ship just appear¬ 
ing over some hills between Vancouver and Cook Bay where 
government ship was waiting. Sailed away with government 
ship after them, but no wind. Night fell. Rigged up casks 
so as to make a long raft, and put side lights on this so as to 
make government ship think they were safely anchored. All 
lights down and sailed on in darkness. Wind came up and 
got away, but had to leave the six men behind on Staaten 
Island. They were caught with seals and got six months 
each. 
June 20 , Thursday . Windy night, south-west wind. Bril¬ 
liant sunrise on snow mountains on Hoste Island. Snowy 
day. Working at otter tails. Captain Dollanz gave me an 
otter puppy one month old from Hermite Island. Ken got 
