The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-26

| crossed up the coast. following the
| shore line. but frequently hundreds of
miles from it. until they reached Ber-
| ing sea about July ]. Soon thereafter
| they landed on the rookeries, but
through the summer many We're abroad
in the inland sea. Such are the habits
of the seals to the present day.
The discovery led to pelagic scaling.
Many years ago private traders took
to intercepting the schools of seal in
their progress north, but only in the
last Is years has the business assumed
large proportions. The bitter war made
on it and the restrictions cast about it
have served to drive many from the in
dustry II was at it's height in 1892,
and has declined since
There are some schooners that sail
under the American flag, their home
ports being Seattle and San Francisco,
but by far the larger portion of the
fleet engaged in pelagic sealing makes
it's headquarters at Victoria, 3. c., and
sails under the British flag. Thissby no
means implies that those engaged in
the business are all British subjects.
Many of the schooners are owned by
Americans who find the American au-
thorities treat a sailor flying the Brit
! ish flag with greater consideration
| than they do one flying the flag of their
| own nation. This is not a pleasant
| thing to say, but it is a fact, neverthe-
| less The working crews of the vessels
are largely Canadian and Nova SEQ
| tian, but among the hunters, the highly
| paid and honored men of the business,
| is large percentage of American citi-
| zens they being chosen because of their
ability as dead shots.
About February, or early in March,
| the schooners leave port QUILTED for
I the season and proceed south until they
fall in with the seals, then turn about
and continue with them until the ami
mails enter the prohibited zone in
Boring sea. Never az sea is any large
number of seals seen at one time They
are shy creatures and have to be
hunted with skill.
The average sealing schooner is a
jaunty, trim-looking craft, some of
them, such as the Agnes Mcdonald,
for instance, having been crack yachts
! on the Atlantic seaboard. They have
dainty yacht-like lines and a broad
! spread of canvas, making them as
| pretty a feet as ever walked the water
or delighted the eye of a nautical en-
| thusiast. Each schooner is equipped
with from four to eight boats in addi-
| ton to the captains boat. The crew
consists of a captain, a mate, hunter
for each boat, two boat-pullers for each
boat. who also work the schooner, a
cook, invariably after the custom of
the sea, known as 'The Doctor
and boy, with occasionally an extra
man or two.
In the after part of the schooner, at
the foot of the companionway leading
from the poop, is a cozy apartment of
some considerable size, at one side of
which is snug little room for the cap
tain. About the large apartment itself
are built hunks for the hunters, who
are treated with all considera ton and
have nothing to do with the working of
the vessel The mate also has a bunk
in this room.
Passing forward one descends a step
or two to the dining room, which runs
across the vessel from side to side and
is lighted by ports. Here the officers
and hunters take their meals.
Far forward in the forecastle the
crew abides in the same sort of quar-
tiers that are found on all vessels.
Amidships is the cooks galley.
It is clear and bright morning in
June in the North Pacific. The schooner
lies rolling gracefully in the long, easy
swell that runs on the oily, milky sur
face of the water. Far off to the west
ward a tiny white speck glistens against
the horizon and marks the presence of
another schooner. Eastward a thin blue
line tells of the coast 1t is o'clock
and breakfast has been served. CHEEKY
voices are heard as blocks and tackle
creak and one by one the boats drop
into the water and their crews leap in
to them. In each boat is slowed a COM
pass, a breaker of water and some sea
biscuits.
With his shotgun across his knee
the hunter takes his place forward in
the dancing. double-ended boat. One
boat-puller seats himself in the stern
sheets and contributes to the motive
power of the boat by pushing forward
| on pair of oars. The other boat-pull
er, seated just forward and facing him,
pulls on his own pair of oars in the
regulation fashion. Now and then.
when lively progress from the schooner
is desired. a sail is hoisted.
In all directions from the vessel the
boats scatter. Presently you see the
| hunters arise, brace their feet against
| the sunwales, while they eagerly scan
| the stretch of sea about them. One of
them catches a glimpse of a black,
| round head, the size of a mans fist,
| poking through the surface of a swell.
| 1t disappears. The hunters gun goes
| to his shoulder and the boat-pullers
| cease rowing and steady the craft as il
rises to the swell; the black spot
tha sights al tfa ,,,,,, +I,o,a