194 PELAGIC SEALING. 



Wounding. The number of hunters thus allowed to a vessel 



is therefore about one-half the number of those 

 actually taken on a vessel employing white 

 hunters. 



Sinking. Besides those lost by wounding-, in many cases, 



others killed outri,^ht are not taken, because the 

 specific gravity of the seal being greater than 

 water ^ it sinks before it can be secured.^ In order 

 to save as many of the sinking seals as is possible, 

 each boat carries a gaff,^ with a handle from four 

 to six feet long, with which to grapple the carcass, 

 if the point where it sank can be reached in tim.e 

 to do so.'* Of course in securing a sinking seal 

 much depends on the distance from which the 

 seal was shot, the condition of the water, whether 

 rough or smooth, and whether or not darkened 

 by the blood of the animal,^ as also the skill of 

 the hunter in marking with his eye the place 

 where the seal sank. It can, therefore, be seen 

 that the range of possible and probable loss 

 in case the seal is killed outright is certainly 

 large, though not so great as when the seal is 

 wounded. 



1 Article by Dr. Allen, Part in, Vol. I, p. 409. 



2 Thomas Brown (No. 1), Vol. II, p. 319 ; Eeriiliardt Bleidner, Vol. 

 II, p. 315; John W. Smith, Vol. II, p. 233; John Woodruff, Vol. II, 

 p. 506. 



3 T. T. Williams, Vol. II, p. 504; L. G. Shopard, Vol. II, p. 188. 

 <T. T. Williams, Vol. II, p. 504; Henry Mason, Vol. II, p. 465; 



Tames Laflin, Vol. II, j). 451. 

 ■'"'Henry Brown, Vol. II, p. 318. 



