New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-16
SEALING IN NEWFOUNDLAND.

Fart UHhTdrcn, in ihc NiHSiefNLh teIftrI
Sealing operations also are vigorously conducted
BIZ Tie inhabitants # IT. johns. In former days
the seal fishery was carried on IN sailing vessels, aud
was attended with c"nS;drrabi" dang r; but now
that steamships are used tho risk mach dlmIn-
ished. The pas ing nature OF the business may he
gathered from the TACT tIAt steamers OF 1--we OF six
Hundred tons buricr, bum and hltcd Tor the pur-
lts, and qultc us''.c'S Tor any Otncf ifale max"
large prJit III average Year., a!ihrcgh the sealing
ac.- pn lasts only month or = weeks. Eariy IN
t,.r sprInV about tie b.ginDiUg of March, the zee
from the north strkcs ~ toward the eastern
coast OF Newfoundland bringing with 1t hundreds
aud hundreds oi thuu -Hd5 Oi seals. Yonug aud Odd.
Inru ~. Johns wakes ny, ana ;h" whole island -
III bust r. IhjuSh Il On AIS constant exposure 10
great cold and extremely bard work. tn Young
men struggle eagerly TO secure berth Ion ihr seal
ing seas H. Tor tn"y saIn very high Wal,'s and tie
business is salt with that element If uncertainty
and danger winch adds such q rcIIsh 10 iiic.
At length everything IS Icaoy. AMI "A iicrt OF
steamers from - johns, and OF sailing craft OF all
kinds aud sizes from large coasting schn0ners down
To open boats issuing from every baJ, start on to
LOOK for tie Zee. The ships, CTowh" wiih a. many
men AZ they can hold, make two trips OF about =
fuItmghfs duration a. eli; TIE first being devoted
To the capture OF the NOuiR seals. ut that
tlm, only Il few weeks old, and the second 10 the
q, srnctlon of tie full-plUsn animals. The latter
are generally shut while the former arc knuCk" on
the head with clubs. ~ sUvn ~ the lee ~ reached
the men scatter themselves about the IA ID, running
the rough surface. Jumping from book 20 block
on Zee. tuubLg into hoes aud acranbiiug out
again, Wild with cNc"cihcnt IN Their search Tor
seals. Each man acts Independently DONG the Oc5t
he can foI hun, "li When ne has Killed seal he
stops but minute ~ WHIP uti the SKIN with the
DubDcr attached. and fastcn cord la II. aud chen
oil again after another SEAL till he has cot rs many
hc can drag, when lac returns, towing
hrs load behind hun. 10 the ship. The
men work with will. giving themselves scarcely
time Ia eat rest. for they receive share Oi tho
profits according 10 Che number Of seals that zach
man brings III. and, II Tire season ~ slccca fu. an
active ami darIug man al make large sum Ot
money. The >cas are Yaiuablc only iur tao oil
wnich ~ tired ont OF their lat, and which Is EN-
plpl ed for various mDrcating purposes. and for
their skins. winch are tanned and used principally,
believe. for shoe leather. They d. not produce
the pet. when, when uiuckcd and dyed, Is worked
up INTO those lovely seLi-shIn Jackets that are as
ue,tIucVc u the purse they delightful t. tho
eye. lHc hulnJor OF seals brought in annually ~
very great. ~ nIani 9s 100000 having been Killed
single season, ana tnc business employ nearly
10000 incn. WnIt becomes OF the multitude
hi. wing seas Is problem | have never
heard satisfactorily solved. The lee. on winch hoy
como DOM swaruis every year from the North.
uclts during the sumIcr months soon atcr coming
in contact vita the WIru waters Oi The Gui stream.
What thun bee ,mcS OF tho seals DO they ilud
Their way back through thousands OF watcry miles
10 their PO,ar birthplace, or 90 they rem IN scat
tered about along ihc shores Of Newfoundland and
tire ncighDpriuR continent 1T ~ problem IN
natural history similar 10 the eel puzzle ut home,
Tor we are sui Ignorance ~ To wat b. comes OF
1 ho Millions of iui,-gTONn ccls that uc ccnd our
rivers with each autumn Hood. but winch are never
seen reasCcnding the stream.