422 HOW TO USE IT. 



a small stone of just sufficient weight to keep it in its place, 

 that is, sunk in the deep water beyond. At other times 

 the reverse is the case. The inner end of the net is 

 attached to the " Skal-Sten " by a mere thread, whilst its 

 outer extremity is secured to the bottom by a heavy stone. 

 In either case the inner or outer end of the net is left in a 

 measure free, so that when the seal strikes it, the meshes 

 on all sides may more readily collapse about the animal, 

 and the more violently it struggles the more inextricably 

 will it be fixed in the toils. 



The "Stand-Nat" is usually set in the evening, and 

 taken up again at a pretty early hour on the following 

 day. If placed near a " Skiil-Sten " it should be to lee- 

 ward, because the seal usually mounts the stone on the 

 weather-side at night, and in the morning takes to 

 the water in the opposite direction. The chances, 

 therefore, are that in making its plunge into the sea' 

 more especially if its movements be quickened by a 

 blank shot, which is often fired for the purpose, it will 

 be made captive. 



It occasionally happens that the seal is taken in the 

 net of an evening when about to mount the " SkJil-Sten," 

 as prior to so doing it is in the frequent habit of making 

 several circuits round the stone for the purpose of ascer- 

 taining if all be safe, and should it not observe the net, 

 it runs its head into one or other of the meshes. 



The " Stand-Nut," it should be observed, "ought not to 

 be set unless the weather be fine, for if the wind and 

 waves beat on the rock, seals will not take up their night 

 quarters there. To lure these animals into the net, various 

 expedients are resorted to. Bright lights, as is known, 

 greatly excite their curiosity. A fire is therefore made 

 on the shore, or on a rock, in rear of the "Skal-Sten," 

 which has the effect of attracting them to the spot ; and 

 as a further inducement, their olfactory nerves are tickled 



