The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-14
INDIAN SEAL FLEET.
First Vessel From Neah Bay
Arrives in Port.
HOW THE FUR SEAL is SLAIN
Five Vessels Owned and Manned by
Indians Going Sorth-Efect of
Weather on Catch.
HOW THE FUR SEAL is SLAIN

The Indian sealing schooner Columbia
is anchored in the haroor off the coal
bunkers. having arrived from Mean bay
for the purpose of securing provisions for
her summer cruise in Boring sea. The
Columbia Is one of q fleet of 1--WE sealers
which make Neah bay their headquarters
and are owned. commanded and manned
by Indians except an occasional White
sailor. The feet consists or the Column
bia, Capt. C. Peterson; the Deeahks.
Capt James Claplanhoo; the Swan. Capt
John Tyson; the Emmett Felix, Capt. Jonn
James, and the Matilda, Capt, William
Yoakam. The fleet merely keeps together
by common understanding.
Capt Peterson, who owns the Columbia,
is an Intelligent man of about 80 years
and has had a great deal or experience
in sealing himself being skillful spears
man. He has studied the habits OF both
the fur and hair seals and is well Versed
in the American and British laws and the
discussions on sealing which have arisen
between the countries.
Cant Peterson is of the opinion that
the seals are not diminishing IN NUMBER
and thinks that the persons who are agi-
tating the question have gained their IN
formation out of season. For instance,
last year his crew killed 312 seals IN hVe
DAYS off the F'lattery coast and In the
period of six months returned with tOo
skins. This year, however, says the cap
tain. the continued rough weather mas
worked 10 the disadvantage OF the hunt-
ers and this has caused many TO thlhK
that the seals were rapidly disappearing.
Rut he in two days during fair weather
secured fifty and fifty-five skins respect
ively The captain is sure from TINS eA-
nerience that the weather is accountable
for the apparent decrease.
No guns are taken aboard these vessels
and every hunter must be crack spears
le1na i'm l.
ing on the suface OF the water. and when
suddenly awakened by the approach or a
canoe or any unusual sound, IL immediate
" dives and remains beneath the water.
The hunting, therefore. is done in the day
time and the outfit used by these lhdlahs
is a canoe about twenty feet long with
man to paddle and steer and another as
spearsman. They glide noiselessly along
until within twenty TO thirty-five feet,
when the hunter raises his ten foot wea-
non nigh in the air with both hands ana
strikes hard. rarely IL ever missing the
mark The price paid 10 the hunter is "a
a skin, which is divided between the TWO
in the canoe, usually proportiohate 10 thelF
experience and skill in a manner TO be set
tied bv themselves. Capt. Peterson says
that some claim that the animals sleep
both 9av and night but he thinks not.
Regarding the much discussed question
of baby seals swimming, the captain
thinks that they do not. Ihey are porn
during the first part OF July on the Berlng
coo islands. and while The captain as
sealer is not allowed within sixty miles
of these islands. yet he is very sure that
the young do not take to the water until
they are month old. or during the month
OF August and none or the babies are
ever seen that far out. The law does not
allow sealing In Berng sea until August I.
The Indian feet will sail from Mean bay
for the North June p, ana WIN remain
about four months, when II will return to
Victoria or this city 10 sell the skins. The
seal which are found along the Vancouver
island and Washington coast, Capt. Peter
son says. is Identical with those OF Bering
sea. II Is a fur seal and II migrates South
I'm the fan usually reaching the mouth Of
the straits about December l.. and remain
ing till spring. II returns North IN June,
reaching the islands. where the females
give birth 10 the young little later. The
hair seal Of Puget sound IS local vari-
etv which does not migrate.