New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-04-13
THE SEAL FISHERY.

U.pRop OF ST JOHNs-THE MANNER IN
WHICH THE ENTERPRISE is CoNpoCiAD-
PERSONS WHO ENGAGE IN II. . ,
TFRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
CT Jouxs. N T.. March 31.-The wild, perilous
enterprise OF the Newfoundland seal fishery though pos
sessnp harvest of living romance and interesting iaets
has never been described in American newspaper ny
an eyewitness of the lucrative SPORT Inc scar 70 III
digeuous TO the boundess fields OF Ice whcn drt doWh
the Gulf Stream these shores from the Arctic regions
century ago. seals abounded near the shore out they
gradually deserted the vicinity of the land AZ the Usher
men became more AT present the masses OF
l ,,babit region varying from 100 TO $50 miles north
ward NJ Newfoundland and the Straits OF Belle lsie
.bout the 1st OF March, the old "harps" ana MOODS
abandon the water, and remain on the Ice unti aier
"whelpinrp when they occasionally seek the water
again About the 18th pt March The young SEALS known
as "white-ooats." are in prime ORDER anu
cargo of these fatted seacalves, 10 days
old ia eagerly sought after as 1t Is the most
valuable cargo TO be procured on the ice From
rho first week of February until the beginning OF March,
the beautiful harbor Of st. Johns Is alive with the busy
sealing feet which line the docks and throng the stream
and brilliant with the flags that aoat from every hayard
placed there as harbingers Of happy termination to
the dangerous voyage After the long and dreary Win
ter of Newfoundland, the sudden veness Of trade Is
exciting and anomalous. These active prepare
tons for the seal slaughter being completed and each
vessel looking trim and stanch, Its crew cut passage
hrough the ice toward the center Of the harbor where
the combined sealhunting marine engage In the brisk
and enivening work Of saving channel through the
wide plain of ice which fills the harbor. For this pur-
pose n huge saw with a horizontal handle 80 feet In
length is employed, aud vigorously worked by as many
.aalers as can find accommodation to do at this pow
erful lever The thick feldce yields TO each powerful
sweep Of the mammoth saw which moves to some lusty
chorus Each crew takes its turn at working the saw
until the channel is cut sufficiently VIDE anu long 10 d.
ford an easy exit to the ice-bound fleet
Tho vessel nearest the opening OF the newly cu channel
has the priiege OF being first owed out That process
ia performed by means Of heavy hawsers' which are
made fast to bow and stern and pulled Dy the united
crews Of the sealing squadron To strangers VINO VIII
ness IT, this scene is one Of surprising interest The
vessels that are owed through the channel are decked
in multitude Of fla % and pennOns which represent oil
Cbrlstendom As well "a every mercantile firm on the
island Voleys Of blank cartridge give uproarous re-
Spouse to the lusty cheering OF the allied crews Tue
SOLID ice far and wide throughout the hasoor is more
crowded during these than any thorougMare III
the principal town OF the island and all interest Is con-
centrated in the prospects Of the hardy fishers about to
engage In their dangerous exploits. sleds known here
az caamarans lin consequence OF their resemblance
10 the RATS Of that used by the FIJI and south sea
Tanders) skim over the ice from all quarters pulled by
Newfoundland dogs and conveying the motley luggage
OF the seal-hunters. This luggage generally con
sists of a plain wooden chest tied up with rope,
o,d q long canvas bag which contains the
rude wardrobe required during the sealing season.
ouaintly dressed women from the neghborinS vii
lagos surround friends and relatives 10 give them
warm godspeed The long line Of vessels lying one after
the other in the newly opened passage Is majestic
naval procession that is seldom seen. Hearty cheers
ring ont alternately from spboard and from the crowds
assembled on the lee as each vessel moves slowly by
and many an enthusiastic fellow cries out IN Ncwtound-
land idom: Plenty o. fat 10 We " That ye may have
10 trim the rlggin wild 'em" (seas) short voyage
an, heavy load :" and Death 70 yer best friends, me
bovs, that they may STAY an abundance Of seasj.
Thus cheered on the sealhunting fleet sail ont OF the
Narrows and steer along its northery route to the
regons Of the seals After "A hours sail IL frequently
bappeus that not one OF the fleet is within sight OF
another After the fourth day before favorable WIND
sharp lookout kept for the variations OF the weather.
"a xperenced seaers have faculty Of tracking cut
the locality OF numerous seals by the nature OF the
winds and the condition OF the Ice Many captains pro-
cure their lucrative prey by sheer good fortune There
is a legend in Newfoundland that certain wealthy Old
CAPTAIN had been is early days so expert follower
OF the seal that on night preceding the evening or
noon upon which his vessel lay amid square miles OF ice
packed with "hoods." "harps." and vhltecoat5.' he
would come on deck and sniff the air, saying I'VE u
strike the seals tomorrow, boys" Whenever that
famous oracle OF the sealhunt delivered such state
ment IL was accepted conclusive, and thenceforth
good cheer pervaded the crew in their firm belief that
the morrow had plenty and wealth in store FOR them
About the 18th OF March the young seals generally
captured. In many Instances, the valuable " white
coats are discovered III such vast numbers that,
literally they cover every portion OF the ice to the
horizon all sides. The cry raised by the young seals
when heard at distance il very like the whining OF
enid ana Wnen on l1e point Oh pcns ~
frequently compelled delay their bloody deeds Upon
rah,ny fhe Ion lair of t1e sea-caf the crew "
each vessel themselves with long poles called
gaffs" and knives known a. sCulpng-knlvesl mus
aTin1ed the seaiers disembar and march forth upon
he G.
seal They IN pairs so that one may assist the other
i'm case OF danger The gloomy silence of the wild North
land broken by the loud songs laughter, and rbadry
INDUCED IN by the hunters whose hearts grow DuoYant
over their prospective fortune. ON approaching the
SEAL the hunters strike blow or the gaf upon its
head which quickly dispatches their victim There ID
living thing sensitive ~ any stroke IN the region
OF the brain the seal One expert hunter can kll
eight ten seals within the space OF a few minutes
Contrast this fact with the value OF seakln and air
estimate can be made of the profit OF THIS enterprise
After killing large number sealgrs begin the essential
work OF scuplng ana skinnng The hrrt operation Is
performed ny making deep cut extending from the
seals hind fppers 10 It's mouth. Then the tat and skin,
easily removed the worthless which IL left
on the ICE hayng packet the skins t9getef te @
they counted and hosted board. Many
benghted and lose sight OF their vessels This ter
re accident il very frequent during the sealing vOy
age. In such instances, men have remalned several
fmshed and froshitten When their vessel is lost sight
OF night, change OF wind may come and so alter the
appearance OF the fields and powders OF ice around her
that the unfortunate seaers forfeit their only
guides to their vessels position. But such
melancholy occurrences rarely take place when
the Of the seals lies the ship. II not, the
hunters have travel ocks and powders OF Ice
which exclude their ship from view before they reach
the object of their labOrOus journey Another peril or
the seal hunt il that the Ice Intervening between the
seaer and their may be parted aud broken into
dminutye cakes by sudden gale which does not give
the poor fellows time return. Ii the ice, as frequently
happens Is completely shattered by the wind eaeh sealer
who escapes drowning is compelled to stand for many
hours, If not days upon small pan OF Ice WINE he IL
Immersed 10 the knees III the frozen water OIten III
vain have those hardy and courageous seamen borne
signals of distress upon their gals until they persisted
| utoff fond AFT