WHITE HUNTERS. 359 



and many in addition carry a Winchester rifle. Only the best breech- 

 loading shotguns are used. The 10 gauge hammerless Parker is a 

 favorite. The charge is 4 to 5 drams of powder and 21 jSTo. 2 or 28 No. 

 3 buckshot in brass shells; paper shells being kept in the boat absorb 

 moisture, swell up, and will not enter the gun. 



In getting our sealing outfit in San Francisco I bought paper shells, 

 but soon found that they would not answer the purpose, for this reason ; 

 the guns and ammunition are generally furnished by the vessel, but 

 some hunters prefer to use their own guns and to prepare their own 

 ammunition. The larger vessels carry six regular boats on deck, and 

 a boat hoisted at the stern, which in moderate weather and when seals 

 are near the vessel is used by the master. In weather suitable for seal- 

 ing, all boats are lowered about a. m., to give them an opportunity to 

 separate and get well away from the vessel before the seals begin to 

 sleep. If there is a breeze, sail is made at once; if not, oars are used, 

 the rowers bending to their oars with a will, while the hunter stands 

 erect in the bow of the tiny craft, his gun in hand, scanning the sea. 

 carefully in every direction, bent upon the destruction of any seal 

 that fate might throw in his way, whether old, young, male, or female, 

 it matters not to the hunter, he is paid so many dollars for a seal-skin, 

 and all count. Upon leaving the vessel the boats always work to wind- 

 ward, as sleeping seals can only be approached from the leeward side 

 If under sail and a sleeper is seen sail is immediately taken in and the 

 sculls used. The vessel follows the boats under short sail, and endeav- 

 ors to keep them in sight, or at least know in what direction they are. 

 In this they are not always successful, as the boats sometimes get 

 separated from the vessel and are picked up by other vessels after 

 several days' exposure, and cases are not wanting of boats having 

 been lost entirely. Sealing boats seldom leave the vessel without a sup- 

 ply of food and water sufficient for a day or two. They are also fitted 

 with a compass. Traveling or playing seals arc shot at and occasion- 

 ally secured, but a large majority of seals taken are killed while asleep. 

 Seals sleep in the daytime and in good weather only. The time of day 

 they go to sleep depends upon the state of the weather and condition 

 of the sea then and in the immediate past. If they have been kept 

 awake by bad weather they go to sleep earlier than they do in a long 

 spell of good weather. Generally on a moderate day they are found 

 sleeping if found at all from 9 to 11 o'clock in the forenoon, and until 

 5 or o'clock in the afternoon, and sometimes later. After they are 

 awake, if the weather is particularly fine, they remain rolling and play- 

 ing on the water, and are not difficult to kill if approached very cau- 

 tiously. But they are exceedingly wary, either sleeping or waking, 

 and great skill and caution is required to secure them. 



The seal lies upon his back while sleeping, with his nose out of water, 

 his flippers folded or slightly raised, and his head to leeward; his mus- 

 cles are apparently relaxed, and his head swings from side to side with 

 each undulation of the waves. Whether he keeps his head to leeward 

 of his body from choice or his head being the only part exposed he as- 

 sumes that position in obedience to the action of the wind, I am unable 

 to state. I am assured by all hunters that such is the fact, and that when 

 sleeping during light baffling airs the seal changes his position with 

 each change of the wind, no matter how slight, and without showing 

 any signs of conscious action. As stated, the boat approaches the seal 

 from the leeward side, rowing up to him as silently as possible. With 

 a light breeze blowing, the seal sleeping soundly, and all the conditions 

 favorable, the hunter can select his own distance. He approaches 



