Year: 1875

The last week in February always finds
the ancient port of st. Johns Newfoundland
in state of unusual activity. The wiarves
are alive with men in oi,skin clothing and
immense boots, the supply warehouse are
busy from morning till night in weighing
cut salt beef and making up packages of
ships stores, and the ajr il; full Of the odor
of wax and the sound OF calking-hammers.
II is the opening cf the sealing season, and
there is an active rivalry among the owners
Of the various crafts of the port to see
which shall get to the grounds first A
law of the province forbids sailing vessels
engaged in the seal fishery leaving the bar
Dor before the fifth day of March, and the
steamers employed are not allowid to start
until the tenth, thus giving all an equal
chance.


The vessels are nearly always ready at
the same time, and it is an inspiriting
sight to see them early on the morning of
the day spreading their canvass for the
start. There is as much excitement among
the various crews to get the lead as there
is among the owners of horses in race,
and accidents not unfrequently happen
from vessels running foul of each other.


The favorite sealing grounds lie all along
the Labrador coast, although cargoes have
been taken along the northern New
Brunswick coast and on the upper shore of
tue Magdalen Islands. The grand race,
therefore is for Labrador, and not unfre-
queLtly from two to four hundred vessels
may be seen at the same time plowing
their way under full stretch of canvass in
that direction.


| st. Johns as many of my readers know,
is built upon a hill, and consists almost of
single street, which runs from the water
up and over the hill for something over a
mile. Off this branch innumerable little
lanes and alleys and side streets, inhabited
mostly by fishermen and their families. 1t
was little after sunset on the evening oi
the 4th of last March that sturdy, round.
faced lad might have been seen issuing
from one of these little streets, carrying a
bundle in one hand and small canvas:
bag, such sailors use for their clothing
in the other. He paused moment as he
turned the corner and stood looking sea-
ward. Below him stretched the broad
harbor, dotted, it seemed to him, with more
vessels than he could count. Most of then
had drawn away from the lorg fringe O
wharyes and dropped anchor, waiting fol
midnight and ready for the start. The
Twin Mountains which guarded the harbo
entrance loomed up dark and forbiding
and the Notifications which lay at thei
feet were hardly perceptible in the gather
ing dusk. The harbor light shone clea
and steadily, and he could hear the plas
of the oars as the boats piled to and FIR
between the shore and the schooners, car
rying aboard the crews or bringing o.


their visitors and friends.


"There gees the Panther" he muttere


to himself, as trim little schooner lie


away from its wharf, to seek better pos


ton. "Ard there's tho 'W Walrus an


Neptune" They got out since fou
o'clock, and suppose the boys are q


aboard. The Wolf won't get away frol
the wharf before ten o'clock, father says


but might just as well be on board
: here"


A sudden shout, as he stopped to pic


up his bundle, made him turn his head.
"Hi! Dan! Say, look here y
) "Why, Johnny Baker! thought yo
e were off an hour ago."


Is "No. Mother had more mend'ng to
2. than she thought; and then / wanted
y get one rousing good meal before we star