Connecticut western news., 1888-04-04
A SEAL HUNT.
Description of an Expedition in
 t Quest of Sealskin.
The Animals are Surprised and
 Killed With Clubs.

Seals once having taken to a place will never desert it unless frequently alarmed. Hero they periodically return to breed, and thence the old ones never wander far. Three expeditions, of two nights on each occasion at most, are made yearly, aud as only one attack is possible each time, great caution and ex- perienco are necessary to ensure good bag. ,....s.--
 The oars have to be muff1 ,d, and the islaad approached according to the wind; for seals are not the sleepy crca- lures ono associates with the 200, but post videttes in commanding positions, and on the slightest alarm there is rush and splash, and goodbye to your prospects for that night. Having dis embarked in silence, the men, armed with heavy cubs somewhat resembling though longcr than policeman's staff, are posted at intervals of two or three yards on the glacis by which the seals invariably come and go. When all is ready every one begins to shout, and then comes rush like thousand sheep, and thwack, thwack, right and left, as hard as you like, aud the more the better, followed by splash, and every one makes for the boats and shoves off.
 For the old bulls, often six feet and seven feet long, are very dangerous and will often follow boat knawing at the gunwales. For purposes of commerce the old ones arc absolutely worthless, and attention is only paid to tho small . est and youngest. We started at one a. m., the writer. continues, for the seal island. A glorious moon made every object as clear as day, and in about half an hour we found ourselves alongside about as difficult landing" place as can we'll be conceived. Imagine then, rather steep glacis, as slippery as slide and extending without one friendly foothold for about twenty yards.
 But our nimble companions lost no time in the ascent and in less time than it takes to write it, we found our selves seized by sturdy arms and in po- sition at the top of the glaci,, "Hoo, hoo!" intermingled with shouts such as none but Afrikander lungs could possi- ply emit, then rent the air, and then { ] roar such as can only describe as that of hundred oxen, followed by a scampering of what seemed a thousand feet and a literal avalanch of seals came tumbliug past us and dashed furiously into the water.
 Personally, was too excited to dc justice to my club; struck about, re- gardless of all instructions, indiscrlmi- nately at old and young that came within reach, and was delighted to find when tEe counting began that I was ths proud exterminator of four. The ex- perts had, of course, done better, and our nights work for thirty-two clubs was represented by 316 seals. To mak, for the boats and shove off was the work of an instant; and, having laid-to for { short time in case of attack, we agair landed, collected our victims and re- turned to the guano island.
 The nights work, however, was b, no means over; and after hearty sup per, the skinning process began ant continued till we'll into the afternoon The preliminary preparing Cor brayins as it is calleD of the skins is somewha peculiar; and as the fur known as seal skin is an undergrowth, all the bristle have to be removed,---i e.: pulled backwards from tho inside. In the yer, young animals these bristles have no appeared; hence, the value of the sea the younger he is, and the absolut worthlessness of the old bulls. On th following night the seals were to be lief in peace; but on the Thursday we re peated the attack, with much the sam experience and an addition of POT to ou bag, making grand total of 523-
 London Field.