The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1869-08-05

and, II unsuccessful, will push out again and
continue coast4lg round what he calls the
cant OF the ice. All this time. the men are
ousliy getting up the tools. These consist of
se'llnS clubs-a sharp spike at the end of a
handle three feet long-long. sharp knives
Ior sklnning the seals. seal guns suitably for
throwing ball, &c. The nights are lone and
'arh at thiS season OF the year, for the bright
continual daylight of the Arctic REGIONS hos
not yet begun to prevail, and snow and slect
are ol hourly occurrence. Altogether. il is
cherries work when there are no seals Evrrv
body Is mutlled from head to foot in the warm
est clothing and fur cap, which only leaves
the tip OF the nose, the ewes and the mouth
exposed. Hoar frost and sometimes aminia-
ture crop of icicles hang from the SHAGGY
moustaches OF the men as they trot backward
and forward on the sn0w-covcred deck to keep
1neT leet warm, or hang dreamily over the
sde discussing the chances of a long purse
versus a short one. For every man on board,
irom the captain and the surgeon to the cabin
boy, IS directly interested in the result of the
| voyage.
Things look roughish." the old skipperrc-
marks. For twenty wears | haven't seen
such a nasty lookout so he coasts along
until he sees an opening wide and clcar be-
tween the Hoes, and pushes in. Coming from
the open, triendlcss sea, ii looks quite home
like among the great foes The "lcad,' OF
open water look Ike streams mcandrrino
! through Il snoW-covcred country \ lazy
seal. with IFS young at its side staring up with
great CLASSY eyes, also takes away from the
| appearance OF utter dcsolation: and now and
then few seals attracted bv the whi-tline of
the scamen. peep up above the oozv sea ln
sec what is the matter Darkness is settling
down, but the old skipper still pushes ON.
trusting TO the ironshod bows. and doubling
and trebin@ of his ship. At last he finds Tie
lee beginning to form around the vessel 50 he
anchors on TO doe and waits for mumina
Before daylight is well on the captain Is >hak-
en- in his bunk by one of tie watch totrll him
that they think seals are not fur off, tor thou"h
the night Is so dark that it is impossible to see
ten yards ahead, Yet they can hear the cries of
seal pups. Morning shows. to the delight of
these hardy hunters after pinnped-, that In
the darkness they have run in among Il huge
herd Of seals quietly enjoying the M1r fu'
nieHc of Arctic life. Not an hour is To- br
lost, for the ice may shitora storm arise. and
the fortune al their ships side may be Match
ed out from before their eyes. From the
Grows Nest a sight may he seen almost
impossible to be described
Far rs the eve can reach the Spotlcss purify
of the snow is spccklcd by huge llock~ OF seals
rcposing beside their escape holes which COM
municate with the sea beneath and nj their
side are their helpless young. Long lines of
hunters are leaving the ship, some armed
with rifles others with the sealing clubs, and
other vessels having scented the plumber from
altar are hurrcdly making fast 10 the foe on
| dcSpatching parties over TO the scene. Crack
crack Every minute the noise rings through
the clear Arctic air, telling that I'M old seal
making for the water has been arrested IN
its career. These are generally the males