The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-12

rear OF seeing sleeping seals. IL u also nsces-
firing OF guns In one boat shall not disturb any
sleeping seals that may be near another. Al
stands at the bow, where he can command n
good view Of the. ocean for a considerable dis.
lance on either side and ahead Of the boat, and
there he keeps q sharp lookout for seals. Each
boat carries three men a hunter, a boat puller.
aud a boat stesrer. The boat steerer sits in the
stern facing the bow. and his duty is. when APP
proaching a seal, 20 guide the boat on 70 IT.
oar will Outlines result in the seal making his
escape before tho hunter can fire.
The hunter has charge OF the boat, and his de-
cisicn is accepted In all matters pertaining to
the capturing OF seals. In pleasant weather and
over a considerable area. and frequently when
night overtaKes them they will be from twelve
to fifteen miles distant from the vessel. Al such
times good Judgment IL required In order to lind
the vessel, for cruising about all day Oh n hum
dred different courses is very likely to throw
the crews out Of thor reckoning. 1t frequently
happens that the night is far advanced before
the hunters arrive on board; only "a few hours
Of sleep can be INDUCED in. FOR at An early hour
they must BE- in their boats again.
IL boats were sent out puiy when seals we're
would be small. la the majority ~ cases. when
no sign of srnl life can be seen from the vessel
the boats Will hud seals not far OFT. providing
the vessel IL on sealing, ground. Eight or ten
boats In q days cruise will cover u considerable
area. and some OF the boats are pretty sure Ut
tnding seals IL there be any about. On the other
hand, a vessel cruising over the same ground
found them quit" plentiful. Boats and Games
when approaching a sleeping sea, MAKO
but little nni>c, and the coveted prize
Is often captured without being nwak.
ened from its -iumbcr. The stating of
the sails OF a schooner, in most cases. Viii awake
chance Of capturing them. When prlagic seal.
Ing began. bnat- " ed to row a mile or two from
seals that might come near. N6 crQ,.ins was
done, and only seas that came within shooting
period used wholly. but shotguns were intro
duced not long after. Shotguns were found to
be greatly superior 20 rifles. as IL larger percent
age of seals shot with them wore, sawed.
When the hunter on the lookout catches sight
nal to MAKE less noise Looking in tie dire.
zion indicated by the hun:rr the CREW may see.
less than q hundred yards away. Il black object
diately the sail l. lowered aud slowed away and
everything In the boat secured. FOR the thump
boat +, generally sufficient ~ arouse the sleeper.
silently they approach the seal; 1t sleeps as
danger. The boat is on the lee side. for IL IL
should approach on the w~iudwnrd side the seal
water the hoat-stenr.r dips his oar and silently /
the boat is pushed ahead Hardy a sound /.
washe> over and fails from ne back Of the sleep
ing object. When the boat i~.ytthin nifty feet
tim" and fires. Instantly the scene ~ sIumber
and quiett repo-e is chainged 10 onc OF pain aud
and IL struggling IN the throes OF death. 1t
makes desperate %plunces. then suddenly ex-
pres. and j. hauled into the boat. The water
for some distance around ia ii'co!oret with
bluod. 1t frequently happens that a seal, after
dead. will moan and groan Ia such n way that it
touches the heart OF the -eaI-r. VINO. out Of pity.
dispatches the suffering animal with a knife.
Female seal, die very hard. and a knife - often
used to put them ont Of misery. More than one
sealer has been heard TO say that II women who
witness the method ot killing seals in the ocean
they would cry out against the practice.
The first prize being captured. ~ail ia hoisted.
and once more III" boat GOO. -k'nninS along
on us. cour.". the hunter at the bow. the men
4 n THAR "a a Nd at-ar avn Az Fla Lon ant
FOR seals. Presently they are. rewarded by
secinEtwo seas nlNep. lying side by side. Again
taken a before tn prevent any noise being
made. This time there are two seals TO deal
a word is spoken. The hunter directing the
movements OF the boat BY his hand. The near
being shot; but At he tirst Fritck Of the harnmmer
OF the gun and before the dead scale be hauled
e eror t4t to o esca .ns '' W ftn'p ,hs !, sn .aHH i ing mHS7ns I one
of its leap. the hunter frrs ,hr second barrel OF
This. In sea,crs' parlan'e. i called shooting, on
the wing. 1t requires long ex perteuce to bc able
to capture two seals sleeping near each other.
but So exrert are som" hunters that sometimes
three and -four sra's are captured outofa bunch
OF six or eight. Wounded sctls frequently show
fight, particularly when spear"d.
From the earliest times Among the Indians OF
the Northwest Coast the chief method Of taking
zeal, has been With the speaT It frequently
and not hit in a vital part OF the body. it will
the boat or canoe. Tie writer on one occasion
out in IL canoe with a party of Indians and
a r-ht OF this Kind. The party had
during the afternoon been quite fortunate. hav-
ing captured nine seals. They were about to
bull seal was observed asleep not far Off. The
sight put the Indians into a state OF great ex-
element. for they anticipated considerable sport.
They approached the >!ceper cautiously and
within spearing distance when 1t awoke.
he hunter drove the spear Mt the seal "a IL was
about to dive, and struck it near the hind flip
pers. Instantly the air seemed To be full of
ecals jumping and leaping in every direction.
hunter had a hard time in holding on to
the spear line. and II was only by taking a turn
! he canoe was pulled through the water at con-
siderable speed. first in one direction and then
In another. and sometimes round and round. At
the end of about three or four minutes. having
become somewhat exhausted by its tremendous
Efforts to escape, the seal grew more quiet, and
began to take in the situation. Al a
distance OF about forty !eet from the canoe. with
It's body out of water a far AS the fore clippers.
II began To- shake Is head violently and give
growls. and while in this position II
made several attempts to bite the spear line.
Failing to accomplish this purpose. ii made a
rush for the canoe. The Indian at tho
endeavored 10 keep the spear line taut. and
II the same time To meet the seal with the kill
.r- club. but he was not quick enough. for be-
he could raise the club the seal had fastened
Is teeth In the side of the canoe. tearing of a
piece OF the gunwale over a foot long. Things
now began to assume a serious look. and proba-
bly, might have terminated in a manner not to
The liking of the hunters had not the Indian at
he stern come to the rescue with a rife which
he had slowed away in the canoe. A bullet in
he head OF the seal put An end to the fight.
DON'T GET RATIFIED AT ANYTHING.
rhinna That Nav Hennen IN Won if Won