REPORT OF BRITISH COMMISSIONERS. 155 



surfaoe or begin to sink slowly. In eitliov case, the boat or canoe is 

 at once niged forward, and if the carcass, whic-li does not ditter ninch 

 in s])ecific gravity from the water, is already i)artly snbnierged, it is at 

 oiu-e secured with a IH-foot gaff", and hauled on board. If the seal 

 should happen to be merely badly wounded, it either struggles u])on the 

 surface until gaffed, or, if retaining strength to do so, dives. If quite 

 lightly wounded, as of course hai>pens in some cases, it may eventually 

 escape; but if severely wounded, it is probably killed at the next rise 

 after a short submersion. 



G05. We are informed that it has been learned by experience that 

 seals may easily be lost if shot in the neck, as in this case the nuiscular 

 contraction of the body often forces most of the air from the lungs, and 

 the carcass then may sink much more rapidly than usual. 



000, This brief description refers to the killing- of seals by shooting, 

 which is now the method most commoidy practised. 



007. The spear is still often em])loyed by the Indians, and when used 

 it involves a closer ajtproach to the seal, before it can effectively be 

 thrown. If either of the two detachable barbes enters the body the 

 seal is never lost, and if neither strikes it, it escapes unhurt; in short, 

 if the seal is S])eared, it is secured. 



008. The dead seals are drawn into the boat or canoe, and brought 

 back at the close of the hunt to the schooner, on board of which they 

 are subsequently skinned, and the skins laid down in dry salt for cur- 

 ing. It is said that in recent years considerable imi^rovement has been 

 made in, and extra care given to, the preserving of the skins on the 

 schooners. This will no doubt have a favourable influence on the prices 

 obtained for the "pelagic skins." 



009. The prosecution of this industry at sea requires all the courage 

 and skill which can be brought to bear on it. The canoes often find 

 themselves far from the supporting schoonor, and should bad weather 

 or one of the frequent fogs of the northern i)art of the west coast set 

 in, it may be dilhcult or impossible for them to regain her with ease. 

 iSeveral instances are known where Indian hunters out off" the west 

 coast of Vancouver Island have entirely lost the sui)porting schooner 

 in fogs, and have only regained the distant shore after suffering great 

 hardships. 



010. The accusation of butchery laid against those who take the seals 

 on shore cannot be brought against this pelagic method of killing the 

 seal, which is really hunting as distinguished from slaughter, and in 

 which the animal has what may be described as a fair sporting chance 

 for its life. The little vessels employed in such work must be staunch 

 and well found, for they have not only to make long voyages, but nuist 

 be able to keep the sea in any weather, and it often hai)pens that they 

 have to lie-to for days together in storms, with all hands crowded in 

 by no means comfortable or commodious quarters below. 



on. Thus, whatever arguments may be advanced against some of 

 the methods and consequences of pelagic sealing, it is not possible to 

 speak of these in terms such as those employed by Lutke, who visited 

 the Pribyloff" Islands as long ago as 1827, and who records his impres- 

 sions as follows: 



II y a qiielque chose de r^voltaiit dans ce carnage de sang-froid de quelqiie niilliers 

 d'aniinaux sans delense. Les chassenrs, tout endurcis qn'ils sont a ce genre de 

 nienitros, avouent que sou vent lenr main a peine a se levei' ])()ur fra])]>er nne crea- 

 tine innocente ([ui, les pattes en I'air et poussaut des cris ])laintifs, quelqnefois tout 

 a I'ait seniblables a ccux d'un enfant qui pleuie, semble iniplorer niisericoide.* 



* "Voyage autoiir dn Monde;, " Tome 1, j). 2G1. 



