348 METHOD. 



landed in the bottom of the canoe did not occupy more than three 

 minutes. 



We bad not proceeded far on our course when two seals were sighted 

 close together. They were so near each other that it was impossible 

 to spear one without waking the other, so the larger one of the two was 

 selected. As soon as it was struck the other awoke, and with a few 

 jumps was out of danger, leaving its companion to perish alone. We 

 soon found that this seal was going to make a hard fight and would 

 probably give us no little trouble. It jumped and dived in quick suc- 

 cession, pulling at the spear rope with sufficient force to move the 

 canoe about in a lively manner, and on two occasions the Indian who 

 was "playing" it had to let go of the line altogether to save himself 

 from being pulled overboard. This kind of work was very severe on 

 the hands, but the Indian held on regardless of bleeding lingers. 

 When the seal would come to the surface to breathe a little slack rope 

 would be gathered in, only to be lost much quicker than gained. And 

 so they fought; first the hunter and then the seal would have the ad- 

 vantage of the situation, and, at the end of eight or ten minutes, the 

 seal apparently was as fresh as when first struck. It looked as if the 

 fight might last for a considerable length of time, which of course did 

 not suit the Indians. In order that there should be no mistake about 

 the result of the fight, an old rifle was brought forth from the bottom 

 of the canoe. Watching his opportunity when the seal was making 

 one of its leaps, the hunter in the stern fired. He missed the mark 

 twice, but these failures did not by any means prove him to be a poor 

 shot, for a person who can hit a seal that is jumping wildly about in 

 every direction at the end of a spear line is indeed a good marksman. 

 A third shot, however, took effect, and the battle was decided. 



Close quarters evidently did not suit the seal, for it showed its teeth 

 in a very unfriendly manner, and on one occasion set them in the side 

 of the canoe. This act was the only false movement the seal had made 

 since the fight began, and it paid the penalty with its life; a rifle ball 

 was put through its body and a club landed on its head at the same 

 time. . Up!>n examination, after being hauled into the boat, we found 

 that the spear head had passed through its right flipper, which accounted 

 for the long fight, as it could use its other flippers to good advantage. 



Prosperity has the same effect upon Indians as upon white men, and 

 soon sail was made and a sharp lookout kept for others. Two more 

 were observed during the afternoon, one of which was captured very 

 easily. The other was awake and came up a short distance away with 

 a red rockfish in its mouth. This fact indicates that there are shallow 

 spots in this vicinity (Lat. 58° 58' north; Long. 111° T west) where 

 seals feed. Indeed, it may be one of the favorite feeding grounds when 

 in northern waters, for it has long been reported that many fishing 

 banks exist on the Fairweather grounds. This was the last seal seen 

 during the day by us. A fresh breeze sprang up, accompanied by a 

 short, choppy sea, and in consequence we were obliged to return to the 

 ship, where we arrived about G p. m. 



Have used a spear for taking seal all my life, 

 Wilton C. Bennett, j>. 356. but when seal are wild sometimes 1 used a shot- 

 gun. 



The Indians make a sure work of it, and secure nearly every seal 

 that they spear. They do not make so much noise 



Henry Brown, p. 318. in approaching a sleeping seal as the white hunt- 

 ers do. When an Indian in a canoe is approach- 



