96. 15 Jan., 1965 This morning we went seal tagging, trying out a new method that Dennis thought up - using the canvas weighing sling to throw over the seals. This works out well, one end having been unchained to more readily accomodate the seals and facilitate my putting on the tag of the flailing tail. Jim Pries, who is here, and Dennis sneak up on the seal and throw the paraphanalia over the seal. If they catch it asleep, the beast is pinned by the ever-loving Dennis (who kisses it) and the heavy Jim. Before it knows what is happening I have grabbed the tail, attached the clip, and the seal is then released. There are sveral ad- vantages to this method over the old wild west lassoing method: 1) the seal is more quickly captured. 2) the tail is more easily held, as most of the body is pinned down. 3) the seal cannot bite through the canvas, the old method allowed the seal to toss about with resultant danger to the tagger 4) the tagged seal does not see the taggers often, and many remain in the area after being tagged. 5) the process is less hard on the seal - no constricting or choking ropes around its neck. 6) Seals in the area are less disturbed, as we all lie down on top of the seal, and other seals cannot see the captured seal - the sight of a lassoed seal often sent nearby ones scurrying. We tagged 4, in 15 min., all within 35' of one-another. 7) it is easier to release the seal, just get up and the seal kicks off the canvas - no struggling to untie the confusion of knots and nooses around its neck. Result of the new method - 20 seals tagged in 5 minutes over two hours - the old record was 16 for one day! This AM Anderson gave us a Bonin he found dead - Jim wanted skinning practice, so he skinned and, with help from Dennis, put up the skin. It looks great. We did paperwork in the rainy afternoon, I got in some Booby research - the wind, rain, and cold have resulted in early sleeping by the boobies - many were asleep at sunset. R2 and R22 are together again - 04 is literally left out in the cold.