THE skbackta. 427 



blubber, they would be apt, during the struggles of the 

 animals, to lose their hold. Fig. 2, the " Skiil-Sten," with 

 the hooks duly arranged about it. The horse-hair or 

 liempen line, to which they are fastened by a half-hitch, or 

 otherwise, ought to be pretty stout, and of sufficient length 

 to encompass the stone, to which both of its ends are 

 secured. Fig. 3, a " Skiil-Sten " with several seals upon 

 it, some reposing in imagined security, whilst others 

 again are eAddently in considerable tribulation. 



The hooks should be placed on the '• Skiil-Sten," we 

 are told, at low water, though only in moderate weather ; 

 for if it be stormy, seals do not willingly repair to 

 the stone. The latter ought to be reconnoitred with a 

 telescope at half ebb on the following tide. If any of 

 these animals are then observed to be lying on it, a blank 

 shot (when the boat has approached sufficiently near) 

 should be discharged, which will at once arouse them from 

 their slumbers, and cause them to plunge headlong into 

 the sea, in their progress to which one or more of the com- 

 pany are commonly " brought up by the run ; " for though, 

 when ascending the " Skiil-Sten," they are not in the 

 •slightest degree impeded by the hooks, which point 

 upwards, and are, moreover, slightly covered Avith sea- 

 weed, yet in their passage to the water they can hardly 

 pass them unscathed. 



THE SKKaCKTA. 



Among other expedients adopted in Scandinavia for 

 the destruction of seals is the so-called Skriiclda, which tig. 1 



