The measurements and weights were as follows:  Height at shoulder, about 4 ft.  Length in straight line from nose to root of tail, 6 ft. 8 in.  Total weight, 625 lbs.  Weight of middle piece, 260 lbs.  Weight of skull (skin removed), 20 lbs.  Weight of skin, 80 lbs.  The right forearm weighed 50 lbs., and the left 55.  This supports the theory that a bear is left-handed.  Right hind-quarter, 60 lbs.; left hindquarter, 60 pounds.  The stomach was filled with short alder sticks, not much chewed, and one small bird feather.  Organic acids were present in the stomach, but no free hydrochloric for digestion of flesh.

It was a great satisfaction to see that none of the bear was wasted, which fact brings up one very good trait of the Creole hunters.  They dislike to go after bear into a district situated far from the coast, because in so rough a country it is almost impossible to get all the meat out.  They sell the skin, eat the meat, and make the intestines into kamlaykas for baidarka work.

April 30 a strong wind kept us from trying the head of the bay, and a short trip was made up into a low lying valley, near the sloop, but without results.

Our men had already proved themselves good.  Vacille was the best waterman and a good cook; Klampe the best hunter, and Ivan a glutton for all sorts of work.

The underlying principle on which the Aleut hunter works was brought out on our short bear hunt.  After sighting the game, he waits until he is sure of his wind, then takes a stand where the bear will pass close by, and shows himself a monument of patience.  Almost all the viewing is done from the water, a small hill near the shore being occasionally used for a lookout.  They get up at daylight, and two men in a baidarka patrol both sides of a big bay, watching carefully for bear tracks on the mountain sides, as this is the surest indication of their presence.  As soon as the bears come from their dens they always make a climbing tour, the natives claiming that this exercise is taken to strengthen them.  Personally I believe the Kadiak bear has very good reasons for keeping on the move continually outside of his hibernating season.

If the natives find no sign on their morning tour, they rest all day, perhaps taking a Turkish bath in a banya, which is not infrequently attached to the hunting barabara.  Another trip of inspection is made again in the afternoon at four or five o’clock, as the bear usually lies up between nine and three.  A bay is watched for several days in this way, and if nothing is seen the natives return to their village, or hunt the hair seal, which are still to be found in fair numbers, especially on Afognak Island.

When you are with these men you must either conduct the shooting trip on your own lines or give yourself entirely into the native’s hands, and do as he thinks best.  You must leave him alone, and not bother him with many questions, and in any case you usually get Nish naiou ("I don’t know”) for answer.  The native gives this reply without thinking; it is so much easier.  The most you can do is to cheer him on when luck is bad, as he is easily discouraged and becomes homesick.