The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-25


In these transactions 1t must be understood that
rarely does money pass. The merchant IS too willy
10 allow the men 10 assume that position OF inde-
| OF few dollars
No, ne overcomes the fisherman with guile He
realizes the necessities OF the son Of the and
lnveiges him into rhe meshes OF the network of the
disgracelul credit system, which dooms every hum
BILE Newfoundlander 10 life OF battle with the deep
for sustenanCe.
These merchants or planters may be likened to
cormorants IN their rapacity.
This garing imposition has been practised for q
century nearly; but better state or things is at
hand.
| The winters here are awfully severe and it is at
this period that the merchant steps In and plays his
points on the fisherman presumably In his employ.
Inc merchant with astonishing benevOlence,
valves The question OF cash payment ana allows his
employe provisions SUFFICIENT TO carry him through
OF the wholesome and durable commodities
OF salt beef, pork, tea, -FOUR hard biscuit anu
merchant blandy says, and an account Is made out,
wherein al the articles are set down at enormously
eXtortionate figures.
Times are hard, OF course, and cash Is beyond the
question: and invariably the poor fellow Is dragged
into bargain whereby he IS bound to retrieve his
The existence OF the fsherman's family depends
upon his bargain with the merchant, and should the
catch prove poor and inadequate to satisfy the
rapacity of the merchant, the sealer or fisherman
nnds himself burdened with debt which seems
irremovable
EVILS OF THE CREDIT SYSTEM.
The merchant to the fisherman becomes the verit-
able Old Man OF tle Sea, and the mariner enacs the
burthen perforce.
However, the contract system has been greatly
probably experienced here, the catch being only
26,O 900 seals.
The merchants who had trusted to bounteous
pointed, and have since grown cautious OF trusting
TO luck IN this premature chicken business.
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE AND ITS RESULTS
AT least the reason for the change Of policy Is laid
to the failures and financial ruin that Overwhelmed
many then; but IN reality it can be traced to the
fnQeDoQQolCe
OF the irlepressible Yank who has scented this
marine Eli Dorado from MS haunts In the Passama-
quoddy and Casco; for be 1t known that the first
amazingly profitable business is the steamer Month
United States company. This is but the entering
wedge but it has raised terrible huboub The
Dor OF st. Johns awaiting the first thaw, that she
may force passage to New Bedford. understand
that her captain had some dispute with the St.
Johns custOm-hOuse cOrmOrants; but he found his
enter his cargo, and thereby deprived ner Majestys
officials OF the bliss OF goatlng over twenty per
The Outcry against Yankee interference In our
fisheries, and ali that OF thing is prompted by
these very merchants, who fear the results OF the
insldi0us cultivation OF Yankee acquaintance by the
fishermen here. The Yanks have peculiar way Of
putting down the cash for everything, aud that
would be too tempting and would confer too much
OF spirit OF independence upon the fishermen The
merchants care nothing for the country, and have
within few years, attempted to barter away New.
foundland to the Canadian Confederation. These
hamper the Newfoundland fisherman Is his struggle
for livelihood.
HABITS OF THE SEAL.
But the main point ana the most interesting, Is
the process OF securing the bone of c0ntent0n-the
seal.
comes down from the Arctic Ocean at the begin
ming OF March, and with it the seals, VINO satlate
their voracity In the schools OF cod and other finny
tribes. This agreeable business proceeds until the
'whelps,o or young seals, put In an appearance In
the centre OF circle OF admirlng acquaintances,
who range themselves In dignlded state upon va
rlous adjacent cakes Of Ice surrounding the frigld
domlci! Of the happy family.
conner until the mature age Of ten days Is attained
when the veteran Is left to flop for himself and be-
come the ultimate prey Of his born enemy man.
Until about three years ago only sailing vessels
sent TO the Ice an idea prevailing that the steamers
being OF greater speed, would get on the field too
grown. That idea, however, has been exploded,
and now there are dozen applicants for berth on
one OF the steamers to every Sne Tor in
steam and also comprehend that every trip ADDS to
WHEN THE FLEET SAILS.
The sailing vessels leave the harbors OF ST. Johns,
upon the LIST Of March. not sooner. The reason foy
choosing that date is that II they sail previous and
get wrecked 10 tue foes or gales the merchant can;
to the pursuit OF the seal man0psail brigantnes
with powerful mansas to assist in forcing the vessel
through the ice These vessels are here eupho-
niousy denOmtnated in the language OF the guile
less and hilarious islanders as 'jackass brIgan-
tines" Whence this designation is evolved will
not hazard. The prows and forward sides OF the
brgantines Sheathed with iron plating to prevent
On getting out OF the harbors the squadrons stimuli.
taneousy head up northWardly toward the Straits
until the ice IS fallen in with generally In four days
The brlgantine then cruises about or hangs on to
berg with her 'lce anchOrs."
THE SEAL HUNT PICTURED.
On sighting the seals from the masthead the ships
head Is turned in the direction OF the prey. Ii the
ice Is jammed too thick 10 permit the vessels pas
sage the boats are lowered away and an exbllaratng
pursuit begins. Outlines the seals are Ave to ten
miles beyond the SHIP and lively pull Is necessary
Nothing the way Of food Is carried the men con;
glass Of rum before leaving the ship. The crew Is
divided into ''gunners" and "batsmen," and these
again appOrtloned into four gangs. The first gang
performs the work Of slaughter; the second gang
haul the pelts" on board the boats; the third gang
transfer them to and stow them away In the hold OF
the ship, while the fourth gang recuperate to relieve
their brethren BY INDUCING IN nap; the pursuit
Of the seals Is exciting The Ice reached the bats
long stafr similar IN shape to the American base
ball bat, with the difference Of greater length.
headed. They leap upon the floating Ice and make
direct for the young SEALS the latter are summa-
riy disposed OF by blow the nose from the bat
or a Kick from the foot en- PEASANT.
The foot blow is termed ''boot." and being dealt
powerfully, settles the Juvenile seal.
work OF destruction. He seems to be everywhere
and his track Is marked BY havoc. He Is generally
provided with an alpenstock with which he springs
from .rce-pan" to .ice-pan" often alghung on
cakes tilted at an angle OF thirty degrees A slip
here wo Id be death: but your genuine seal hunter
rarely trips up for he Is educated from the cradle
to endurance and agility, and endowed with fearless
ness and q clear head. Should the animal prove
veteran and show light the gunner comes to the
batsmans succor, and the monarch topples over
with charge OF shot through his head. The rife is
not used, as 1t discharges the bullet with too much
velocity, and rtchOCnPt shot rebounding from an
iceberg might njure or kill the wrong party, where
so many men are scattered about. Therefore long
smootn-bore gun, loaded with shot slightly larger
than bucKshot, performs the service. When the
young seal Is nit 1t gives cry startlingy similar to
that OF babe and 1t requires two or more trips to
the ice before any save the most hardened can over
come certain feeling OF repugnance at their
slaughter.
With the ancient parties however, it is different.
They are terribly ferOci0us, and incautousness or
precipitation Will leave Its consequences upon the
unlncky wight who rashly ventures TO close quar-
ters.
The old seals incisors Will cut slices from limb
as clean as by the scalpel. Indeed, the enraged
animal often vanquishes both gunner and batslnan,
and puts them to ignominous flight, as their only
salvation.
The great point is to save the laceration OF the
sealskln, and TINS can only be done by shot In the