Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-01-26

SEAL FIsuING.-The killing of seals,
which is sometimes done by shooting, but
more generally by striking with bat, is
always exciting, and ofcntimes dangerous.
The seal-hunter, while pursuing his voca-
ton, frequently has to travel miles from
his vessel. Very often the cake Of ice upon
which the men have gone for seals breaks
up, and, separating from the main body,
drifts out of reach of succor. 1t is true that
parties caught IN this predicamcnt are gen.
orally rescued-oftcn in furnishing condi-
tion-but instances are on record where an
entire ships crow have drilled away and
persisted miscrably. Aside, however, from
this contingency, the seal hunter runs little
risk. The young-harp seal, up to the time
of its taking to water, is very easily killed.
The hunter approaches it on the ice, and
striking it on the nose with the bat, which
is Il pole about seven feet long and two
inches in diameter at the thicl<cst part, on
which is fastened II ''gaf, or boat-hook
kills it almost instantly. When they are
old enough to take to the water, however,
they become very wild, and cannot ne APP
preached sufficiently near to be killed by
the bat. In such eases the hunters shoot
them with "seal-shot," manufactured cx-
pressly for this purpose. The seal having
been killed, is Immediately skinned, and
the pelt and fat carried on board the vessel,
the hayed carcasses being left on the ice.
1t must not be supposed, however, that
this is done unfortunately or without
method. On the contrary, each man must
,,1- 1, j; (; q a.
seals he has killed during the day. Accor-
dinghy, each pelt is taken in hand. and
laced i'm the following manner. Holes are
cut, lengthwisc with the fur, large enough
TO admit of small rope The first seal
skin is laid on the ice, fur down and the
rope laced through those holes. Another
skin is then laced into il, with the first, and
So on until the entire tow is laced. The
lacing of STOW of fat" is considered great
accomplishment and when a tyro has a
good tow, he steps at once into the rank OF
a first class iourncyman.
As soon as the lows are properly laced,
each man makes his particular tow fast to
his waist, and drags tit may be for miles
to the ship, where it is hoisted upon deck.
Sometimes, however, when the seals have
been captured near the vessel, they are
placed upon the tow and drawn to the side
of the ship before they are skinned.
After the days work is over, the pelts-
which, in the meantime, have been left on
the decks TO cool-arc carefully packed in
the pounds, and the crew are ready To 20
through the same routine on the following
day. As soon as full cargo has been OBJ
tanned the colors are hoistod, the crew cheer,
and the vessel is stecrod for home when,
if the voyage has been a quick one, sec
ond is generally undertaken the same year.
on arriving in port, the cargo is landed
and the fat separated from the skins by a
peculiarly shaped knife made for the pur-
pose. The fat, which is usually an inch
thick, is cut into small pieces, and placed
in a vat. where it runs into oil within four
weeks, and becomes the "seal oil'' of COM
mercc. The skins are sailed, packed four
or five in bundle, tied with cord, and
are then ready for Shipment 1ppIcton's
Journal