The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-06-15
INDIAN SEAL HUNTERA
Small Rivals 81 the Alaska Far Csapsay.
F,p,n n, San Fraurfsoo m ronIcia


From ne san Srdnetsco CAroniciS
Along the western coast Of Washington
Territory from Cape Flattery and separated
from the Puget Sound country By the Olympic
indians Who have little or no contact wiiS the
vhitea. and who are bravo and hardy race II
Tss hs sGa 81 ss n:s e
arm; and blankets introduced By tew scat;
TS ns wSs s 81
are many q them oi great ,siSs and strength
with remarkable case ana skill. -
:, ln the seal nshinx the canoe used Is z email.
Viii consist X sics Boat
generally the owner OF the canoe and outfit
or. or. The eaaipmont is sinpis"tSrec days pro-
vision Of s bread whale smoked 6lub6er
heavy HARDWOOD club. The spear 'u used IL q
curious affair. 1t consists Of long. heavy
diameter and some eight or nine feet in length.
made OF some three or more piecos 81 we'll
acquires All fins polish By icn9 years OF uss.
Some two feet or more from the end II IL split
II two nn nsa
spearhsasi Of hone or dearborn. with barhs Of
tho same material dashed on Ct such nm sng!s
are fastened to = stout line made Of siney or
piaited sealskin. which passes through Q
the canoe. This line Is some twenty feet long.
So equipped they start ont on their perilous
Sssa hs s1 %s. s e
hs sp q the ss and The most
storm when thsy i are exhausted b tSsIr long
bout with the waves aud sleep so soundiy that
the sI place lace whers there q prospect q binding
seal: tho spearsman sbandons the paddle
rises on each succeeding swell. no watches
for tho black hced Of the sleeptns seal.
the boat "n pulisr Who CEASES lis WORK and
the canoe proceeds, propelled only By the
" on to the victim. The senses Of tho seals
,Ss sas w, a,ns any n.as d
the side. Of the canoe is sufflcient to arouse
them. when the hunt Is up. SO far as they are
stands erset naked and motionless In the bow.
Els hand tho way OF the canoe is stopped and
he Launches bis weapon. generally transtixing
The handle ioosens and floats to tho surface.
A steady pull on tho line brings the struggling
sSngsids when sharp bSw With shs
sash' ns ss .ssts snd q: isos Ssss
ters have been severely bitten. Usually three
en s' s ss 81 :. 1t SGsn as
down to ship It tho ond Of the season.
h the last few years thsTH mas b been nan IKE
traders fading. that the work Of the Ildians
from the beach Is too precarious and unreliable.
gagsd. Indians arc stili employed Ia the &C;
OF hunting remains unchanged, except that in
sy e % 9ss s.S e: sG n: ss
s son s. their xiyss. arc isksn Sr %
. t. as s .a' sse S:s a hs
s' result. 'o their s1 a. nsS
sRs or .Re SnS .
Indlans receive no pay beyond . small bonus
them 81 the p.
fair sum for each pelt brought In. ranging from
$3.50 to 40. according to size and condition;
q ths assy 81
ak schooners from Puget Sound take part 10
sn :ss masS from on Sra s
the drst time. white men have been snbett-
and s H SUBSTITUTED Tor spears. but
change Is looked on with disiavor BY the other
9. 4. e claimed the noss o ~, he rs
feeding grounds. All the, vessels EMPLOYED
r Hsys me- from ser ss cruise p"
reported more plentiful and tanner than ever
few years very large but an active com petition
for the services OF the Indians has In the last
three, years cut seriously into the receipts BY
psits but there Il still q iair margin isit ths
| traders for their trouble and expense. u. b.