354 METHOD. 



Charlie Tlaksatan, p. When I first began hunting I used a spear and 

 270. how and arrow, but now the shotgun is used ex- 



clusively. 



Charlie Wank, p. 273. The spear was used in early days, but now seal 



have become scarce and shutgun and rifle is used 

 exclusively. 



Many years ago, when seal were plenty, the spear was used, but now 

 so many schooners are engaged in scaling that 



Michael Wooskoot, p. the shotgun and rifle has to be used in order to 

 secure them, as they have become very wild. 



WHITE HUNTERS. 

 Page 190 of The Case. 



The work of seal-hunting is carried on about as follows: The hunter 

 and boat's crew leave the vessel at daylight, 

 ^William Brennan, p. usua n y carry i ng one rifle and a shotgun, though 

 some of them have two shotguns with about fifty 

 rounds of ammunition for each gun. If a breeze is blowing they go 

 under sail, or, if it is calm, the boat is rowed. The hunter has charge 

 of the boat, no matter if he is not an expert boatman. 



If a sleeping seal is seen, the boat is run within about 100 yards of 

 it, and the sail and mast are lowered with the least possible noise, as 

 the seals are easily awakened. The boat-sfeerer cautiously paddles 

 toward him, being careful to keep to the leeward, and with ordinary 

 care the boat can come within a few feet of him before lie is aware of 

 it; then, if the hunter is cool, the seal is sure to be captured. Should 

 the seal be only wounded, he will dive, unless hit in the flipper or nose. 

 If he is not killed so dead as to be unable to dive, ten to one he will 

 get away, for it is uncertain where he will come up, and the boat may 

 be a long way from him when he reappears. In such case the boat 

 usually remains still, with boat-puller and steerer standing ready to 

 follow him as soon as he is seen; but he very often rises out of range 

 and gets away. An experienced hunter and boat's crew will get at 

 least seventy-five per cent of "sleepers," and perhaps more; but the 

 sleepers form but a small part of the seals hunted. The noise of fire- 

 arms will awaken every seal within the distance of half a mile, and put 

 it on the alert. The boats stay out until dark, if the weather is fine, 

 and the five or six usually carried by a sealing vessel cover an area of 

 5 or 10 miles on either side. 



If the seal is u finning" the hunter will probably spend ten or a dozen 

 rounds of ammunition, provided he wounds it with his first shotbeforehe 

 takes it in, which he often fails to do. If it is "breaching" — that is, 

 jumping clear of the water — the hunter will most likely try a rifle-shot 

 at it, as there is a bare chance that he may hit it. If he wounds it and 

 it escapes it is all the same to him, except that he has one less skin. 



To be a good hunter a man must be a crack shot on the start, and 

 then it will take him at least two seasons to learn the motions of the 

 seal, so as to he considered an expert. lie must understand how to 

 approach the seals under all circumstances so as not to arouse them, 

 and must also have a good boat- steerer, as a great deal depends on him. 

 Perfect quiet must be kept in the boat, or the seal will be awakened; 

 and the boat-steerer must understand the seal's habits as well as the 



