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short hair. On the shore, as was already mentioned, it is
very dangerous to approach directly from the front, because,
having unusual strength in its fins and spine, it can suddenly
move forward ten or more paces and grab with its awful jaws.
Knowing that, the Aleuts usually attempt to approach it suddenly
and from the side in order to stun him with a blow on
the forehead with a thick, heavy club, as said. In June and
July terrible fights arise among the males, who often bite
each other to death while the females remain quiet spectators.
Each male has 20 or more females. Another member of this
group, not as rich, endeavors to attack, and that starts the
described fghts. The vanquished either remains on the spot
or runs back into the water and goes in search of a weaker
opponent. The conqueror remains complete master of his group
of females, drives them into the sea or on the shore as it
suits him, and they willingly obey him.

For hunting the precious sea otter, erroneously called
beaver by us, only the rare Aleut sets out, the same as for
the whale hunt, not because it is fraught with huge dangers,
but because it requires special training and skill, first, to
search for, and second, to kill it. These animals, strongly
pursued, left these regions for farther south, and appear in
great numbers now in California. Those remaining are so cautious
and apprehensive that they let one approach them only
when lying on their backs sleeping on the surface of the sea.
The small arrows that strike them are of a different construct-