The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-11-11
SEAL HUNTING.

ne ann or hunters Is TO reach the young
seals which lie cradled on the ice, in
"patches" or rgroups, somewhere in the vast
Recovered area extending between two
or three hundred miles from our shores.
There they lie during the first four or FIVE
weeks of their existence, fed by their
mothers milk, and growing fat at an enor-
nous rate. Armed with their "gaffs," or
iron-bound clubs, the seal-hunters on
getting among the 'white-coats" leap on
the ice, and then commences "the slaugh-
ter of the innocents" A blow on the
nose from the "gaff" stuns or kills the
young seal, and instantly the knife is at
work; the skin and adhering fat are de-
tached with amazing rapidity from the
carcass, which is left on the ice still quiv-
ering with life, while the fat and skin alone
are carried off. The fact that each seal
slaughtered is worth SO gives zest and
energy to the bloody work. Fancy the
crew of one Of the largest steamers, num-
beriug 300, on an ice.feld, eagerly carry
ing on their murderous work; their persons
smeared with blood and fat; the ice stained
with gore and dotted with the skinless car
cases of the slain; "the shivering seals
low moans," like the cries Of babies in dis
tress, filling the air. The shouts of the
hunters, the blows of the "gaffs" as they
dispatch their victims; the blood-gouts
that cover the hands and arms of the men
and stain the virgin snow; the carcasses
denuded of skin and fat, and yet palpita-
ting with warm life, as they are flung on
the ice; the eager, exultant hunters, shay
ing, "sculping," hauling the loads of fat
to the ship-what a scene amid these ice
solitudes Of the ocean, with the bright sun
in the heavens lighting up the glittering
pinnacles and far-spreading fields of ice.
On the deck men are moving about knee
deep in fat and blood, as there the pelts
are piled previous to being slowed under
the matches when cooled. The hunters
arrive with their loads of fat, snatch
hasty moment to drink bowl Of tea, and
are off presently in search of new victims.
The poor mother seals, now cubess, are
seen popping their heads up in small lakes
of water, anxiOusly looking for their snow
white darlings, and refusing to believe that
the bloody carcasses on the ice are all that
remain Of their tender offspring. With a
moan of distress they plunge into the wa
ter, us if anxious to escape from scene
polluted by the ensanguined trail of the
hunters. The maternal instinct is very
strong in the seals. The mothers remain
near their young, fishing in their neigh
borhood, and returning occasionally to give
them suck. 1t is most curious fact that
when the ice is unbroken each mother seal
has its own hole by which it reaches the
water, and which it takes care to keep
from freezing. On returning from fish
ing excursion extending over fifty or a
hundred miles, each is able to find its own
hole, and, among thousands of others, at
once to distinguish its own snow-white
cub-by the sense of smell, it is believed,
which it proceeds to fondle and suckle.
This is one of the most wonderful achieve
ments Of animal instinct. The young are
scattered in myriads on the ice, and du-
ring the absence Of the mothers the ice,
borne on the current, has shifted its posi-
tion many miles-yet each is able to find
its own ice-hole and to pick out her own
darling from the immense herd with un-
erring accuracy.
At times the hunters have to push for
ward over the ice two or three miles from
the vessels in pursuit of seals, and should
a fog or snow-storm set in there is terrible
risk of losing their way and perishing mis-
erably on those ice-deserts, or of falling
through the openings which are covered
with snow. Sometimes the ice-felds on
which they are at work separate without
a moments warning, and they are foated
off to lie down and die on the ice, unless
rescued by some other vessel of the feet.
Or perhaps furious northeaster blows,
"rafting" the ice or piling the huge blocks
one upon another all around the impris-
oned ship, and at length crushing her like
nutshell and leaving the unhappy sealcrs
shivering and perishing with hunger on
the floating ice-felds. Sometimes their
sufferings arc very great but on the whole,
such are their skill and fortitude in meet
ing all emergencies, and such their ac-
quaintance with the manners and move
ments of the ice, that comparatively few
mishaps occur. The very dangers of the
seal-hunt present an irresistible charm Of
excitement to these daring men who have
been nurtured amid such perils. Besides,
it is thus they win the bread for their
wifes and little ones at home; and how
happy to be able to enter port with enough
to keep the wolf from the door and glad
den the hearts Of those who on shore are
longing and praying for their success
81. Johns, NJ f. Cor. ". Y World.
How the Eye is Preserved.