the day previous to our arrival and 1,000 seals killed. Quite a large number of seals were on the rookeries at that time-all males I was told. We sailed on that cruise January 2 via Puget Sound about January 9. During the passage from Puget Sound to Unimak Pass, after clearing the land we saw fur-seals nearly every day. These were probably some of the last to leave the islands, and were on their way to the American coast in search of food and a milder climate. Those which left earlier were already upon the coast. As shown by the affidavits of the sealers, they begin to take seals on the Sealing off coast. coast of California in January. The climate and food supply undoubtedly control the migration of the seals as they do other animals. The old males being hardier and stronger can withstand the climate and secure food under conditions that would be unendurable for females and young. Male seals remain upon and around the islands until the ice appears. The natives say the codfish also disappears with the first appearance of ice. Many of these males, I believe, remain upon the fishing banks in Bering Sea during the rest of the winter Some of them go to the banks outside of the Aleutian chain, and others to the banks farther east.

Old bulls are rarely seen south of Cross Sound, while we found them plentiful and apparently in peaceful possession of a liberal supply of red rock fish about 75 miles off Yakutat.

Migration.

As the cold weather approaches, the females and young leave Bering Sea, and about two months later appear off the American coast, where they find a genial climate and an abundance of food. They appear on the coast of California and Oregon simultaneously with the smelt and herring. As I previously reported, we learned upon our arrival at Astoria, March 18, that the smelt had come and gone; that they were unusually early this year. We were told by the sealers off the coast at that time, and our observations confirmed it, that the seals were moving north unusually early. On the coast of Alaska in April and May, when according to our observations and the testimony of the Indians seals are most plentiful, we found the bays filled with herring, smelt, and eulachon.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

C. L. HOOPER,

Captain, United States Revenue Marine.

REPORT OF JOHNSTONE H. QUINAN, SECOND LIEUTENANT UNITED STATES REVENUE MARINE.

PELAGIC SEALING.

UNITED STATES REVENUE STEAMER CORWIN,

Capt. C. L. HOOPER, U. S. R. M.,

Commanding:

Sitka, Alaska, May 4, 1892.

SIR: I herewith respectfully offer the following notes relative to pelagic sealing derived from observation and personal Experience. experience.

In obedience to your orders I accompanied two Neah Bay Indians, Chad and Wilton by name, May 1st and 2d, off Sitka Seal-hunting with Sound, to hunt seal. The canoe we used is of the Neah Bay type, hollowed out of white cedar, 24 feet long, 34 feet beam, and 20 inches deep, braced by thwarts secured to the sides

Indians.

by cedar twigs, the stern rising abruptly 10 inches and stem projected forward and rising gradually to 2 feet above the gunwale, the latter terminating in a figurehead, which, with the long prow, resembles some fanciful animal, not unlike a giraffe. In this head is cut a notch, on which the spear rests when ready for use. A rifle, shotgun, spear and line, mast and sail, two paddles, a pair of oars, gaff pole, short club, a prismatic-shaped wooden bailer, and a box of ammunition and bread completed the outfit. After leaving the ship, the Indians, one sitting in the stern with his paddle, and the other in the bow with his oars pulled to windward, this being invariably the rule, as it is in this direction the seal must be approached. We had pulled several miles without seeing anything, when suddenly the steersman gave the canoe a shake and pointed in silence to a seal 75 yards distant, lying on its back in the water, apparently asleep. Its flippers were raised Seal floating.

in the air and moving listlessly from side to side, as if fanning itself. The bowman took in his oars and substituted the paddle, and the canoe glided noiselessly toward the unconscious seal. When within 40 yards of it the after paddle alone was used, and the bowman stoody ready with the shotgun. It was soon seen that the seal's head was under water. The Indians told me afterward that it was only drowsing and looking for fish. Whether this be a fact or not I do not know. In this position a seal is said to be "finning."

During all this time not a word was spoken, and so noiselessly did the canoe glide that we got within 10 yards of it and Method of killing. the hunter fired, pouring a charge of buckshot into its

breast. The seal, to my great astonishment, was not killed, but gave us one surprised look and instantly dived out of sight. It rose again. 50 yards off, gave us another look and a second time disappeared. Then followed a chase to windward, the Indians dexterously applying their paddles in that direction. Three times it disappeared and reappeared before it was finally shot and captured. Even then it was necessary to use the club to kill it. One hook with the gaff, a sudden pull, and the unfortunate seal was in the canoe.

The oars and paddles were again used and we continued on our way. The next seals we sighted were three in number, asleep on their sides and backs on a bunch of kelp, their favorite resting place. Their fore and hind flippers were visible, the former closed on their breasts; their heads were lying to leeward, and moving slowly from side to side. In this position a seals sleeps soundly. When its head ceases to move, it is an indication that it is waking up, and this is the time to shoot. The canoe this time approached from a point nearly at right angles to the wind, so as to get a good shot. The most vulnerable place is in the neck just back of the head. One of the three was instantly killed, another shot and killed after diving and re-appearing, and the third escaped. The first one was allowed to float until the second was secured, occupying a space of about twenty seconds.

The time it requires a seal to sink depends upon the character of the seal and the place in which it is shot. Some sink in

stantly, while others float for two or three minutes, and Sinking of seals. possibly longer. Gravid cows, that is, cows that are heavy with young, sink more slowly than males, and seals that are lean more rapidly than those that are fat. If the lungs of a seal which has been killed retain air it will float for quite a while.

The best time for hunting seal is a good day following a protracted spell of bad weather. In a very rough sea seals can not sleep, but

merely lie on the surface and lazily roll over and over; hence the term "roller."

After securing our third seal we set the sail, which consists of a spritsail bent to a mast which can be easily stepped and unstepped. After sailing a few miles we sighted several more seal asleep on kelp, and took in the sail and proceeded under paddle alone. This is always done, as the canoe is more easily handled and the flapping of the sail is liable to frighten the seal. We succeeded in getting within 40 yards, when one of the group, which was awake, gave the alarm. Instantly the Indian fired, wounding it in the head, but they all escaped.

As a rule it is an easy matter, especially for a canoe, to get within 10 yards of a sleeper. Sometimes the hunters can almost touch them with the spear. Out of sixteen seals which we saw, twelve were asleep, and four playing. We killed and captured three, all of which were cows, wounded three, which escaped, and missed two. The No shotgun used. shotgun was used exclusively in all cases but one, when the rifle was used at long range. The Indian hunter, Wilton, who did the shooting, is considered a good shot, and this is about Percentage caught. the percentage, he tells me, which he usually gets. The Indians are more expert with the spear and seldom miss with that weapon. They use it, however, only on sleepers. They were very anxious to use the spear instead of the gun, but I would not allow them, in accordance with your instructions, since white hunters use the gun exclusively, and it was desired to learn what percentage of those shot escaped and are lost by sinking.

Hunting with

spears.

For the information of those who do not know I will describe the spear and manner of using it. I refer you to the drawing. The spear is made of wood and consists of four parts, viz, (a) made of fir, 12 feet long, 1 inch in diameter, handle (b) and two prongs (c) and (c) made of the branches of crab apple, one 30 inches, and the other 15 inches in length. Over the ends of these prongs fit spearheads (d) and (d') made of elk horn and old files. To each spearhead is fastened a stout sinew or cord (e), procured from the tail of the whale and served with twine. These are only a few feet long, and form a bridle to which is attached a stout codline (f) 12 fathoms long. The horn of the spearheads, to which this sinew is attached, is covered with a thick coat of spruce gum to keep out water and prevent rotting. When the spear is used the line is drawn taut along the spear, a kind of hitch or slipknot taken over a cleat or lug (g) and the end of the line made fast to a thwart in the head sheets of the canoe, the rest of the line coiled down neatly for running. The bowman rests the spear in the notch at the head of the canoe until almost within spearing distance; he then raises it with his left hand, grasping it at the handle (b) with his right, the first two fin gers in the notches, which are set in a plane perpendicular to that of the prongs. The longer prong is always uppermost, so that in case it misses its prey the shorter will do its cruel work.

As soon as a seal is struck the spear detaches itself from the line and spearheads and floats on the water. Then commences a struggle and a scene such as follows the catching of a shark or other large fish. If the seal is not a formidable one it soon tires itself out and is dragged to the canoe to be clubbed to death. If it be of a larger growth, an old bull, for instance, and show fight, it is

Shooting necessary. necessary to shoot him before he can be captured. On

one occasion an old bull, in his terrible fury, bit a small piece out of the side of the canoe.