4i2 VALUE OF THE SEAL. 



vmheard-of hardships and perils, yet by the Finns and 

 others they are looked on as liighly interesting and excit- 

 ing. " It is a playing with the dangers of the sea," says 

 a gifted Swedish writer, " and an endurance of labour 

 and fatigue that reminds one of the hardihood and 

 martial exploits of the old sea-kings." 



The seal is of considerable value to its captor. The 

 skins of the adults of the larger species, we are told, are 

 tanned and used as a substitute for leather, whilst those 

 of the smaller are converted into various articles of 

 clothing, as also into boots; and if the skin has not been 

 previously prepared, a little pulverised bark is placed 

 within them, which, when acted on by the Avarmth and 

 moisture of tlie foot, tans them to a certain extent. 

 Trunks and cushions are also covered with the skins of 

 these animals. The Finns, moreover, not unfrcquently 

 attach a slip of the skin to the under part of their 

 Skidor, or snow-skates, which, though being no impedi- 

 ment when ascending a hill, yet effectually prevents a 

 retrograde movement. 



The blubber, which even on a Marbled Seal, the 

 smallest of ihe Phocae, is some two fingers in thickness, 

 is for the most part salted, and used by the common 

 people in lieu of butter ; or else it is boiled down into 

 oil, in which state it serves various purposes, such as to 

 supply them with light, and to grease tlieir fishing-boots, 

 as also the cattle, during the great heats of summer, 

 when they are pestered by insects. 



The flesh, which is darker in colour than that of 

 most other animals, is eaten both salted and fresh, and 

 by some with great gusto ; that of the young of the 

 Common or Marbled seal is, by certain individuals, con- 

 sidered equal to lamb. And though the seal feeds chiefly 

 on the finny tribe, neither its flesh or blubber has the 

 least fishy taste. The " flippers," when pickled, are 



