1891-92. ] THE PHOCAS OF TERRE NEUVE. 305 
animal, sometimes measuring 20 feet long, and weighing from 500 to 
1,000 pounds. Its skin is said to be an inch thick, and covered with 
short yellowish brown hairs. What is called the seal is the skin with the 
fat or blubber attached, the carcase being left on the ice where it is killed. 
The flesh of the seal is frequently eaten, the heart and kidneys are 
like the pig’s, and taste like them. The first thing that occurs in Nev/- 
foundland to break the winter’s torpor is the bustle and activity attending 
the outfitting of the vessels for the seal fishery. In its prosecution are 
combined a spirit of commercial enterprise, a daring hardihood and 
intrepidity almost without parallel. The interest of every individual, 
from the richest to the poorest, is interwoven with it—from the bustling 
and enterprising merchant that, with spy-glass in hand, paces his wharf, 
sweeping ever and anon the distant horizon for the first view of his re- 
turning ship, to the little broom girl that creeps along the street, hawking 
her humble commodity. The return of the seal hunters reminds one of 
Southey’s poems, “ Madoc” and “ Roderick the last of the Goths.” 
The seal fishery of Newfoundland has assumed a degree of importance 
far surpassing the most sanguine expectations of those who first em- 
barked in the enterprise, and has now become one of the greatest sources 
of wealth to the country. In the commencement the seal fishery was 
prosecuted in large boats, which sailed about the middle of April and as 
its importance began to be developed, schooners of from 30 to 50 tons 
were employed, which sailed on the 17th of March. In 1845 the number 
of sailing vessels employed was 350, from 60 to 150 tons manned by 
12,000 men. The time spent on the voyage was from two to six weeks. 
The sailing vessels have now been mostly superseded by steamers from 
300 to 800 tons, carrying from 150 to 280 men each. In 1891, 19 
steamers were engaged in the seal fishery. One steamer brought in 
§,000 young harps the first trip and 18,000, old seals the second trip. 
The total value of both trips estimated at $132,000. Some of the 
steamers have brought in from 20,000 to 40,000 seals. A number of 
seals are taken in seal nets in winter and spring. A few years ago 
150,000 seals were taken to the shore by persons who had walked on the 
ice in some of the northern bays of the island. Some years ago the ice 
was packed and jammed so tight in some of the bays for several weeks, 
that the seals on it could find no opening to go down, and numbers of 
them crawled upon an island, when some people happened to land upon 
the island and discovered them; 1,500 seals were slaughtered among 
the bushes. Seals have been known to crawl several miles over land. 
The number of seals taken yearly on the coast of Newfoundland is from 
400,000 to 600,000, producing, commercially, no less a sum _ than 
$1,500,000. The seals are sold by weight. The young are sold at from 
