A YOUNG SEAL CAPTURED ALIVE AND KEPT. 271 



upou Lis hind flippers, and, with a sharp, querulous 

 yelp, displays a set of ivories little inferior to those 

 of the lion; however, it requires hardly any address 

 on the part of the pursuer to avoid him. When the 

 animal once gets into water, no matter how shallow, 

 farther chase becomes hopeless, as it can then propel 

 itself at a powerful rate ; but while on land, though 

 its movements are by no means slow, it is no match 

 for a good runner. 



A young sexil, by the knowing ones said to be 

 about six weeks old, was captured alive, passed 

 into the boat, and carried aboard the ship. It seemed 

 in no wise disconcerted, except at night when a light 

 was placed near its eyes, whereat it became much 

 alarmed. It showed but little timidity when caressed, 

 and evidently considered our dog as one of its own 

 species, so solicitous was it to form an intimacy with 

 him ; but puppy fought shy, and avoided companion- 

 ship with the amphibious creature. From its docility, 

 we anticipated keeping it for a long time ; yet during 

 the several days that it was retained, although ofiered 

 both small and large fish, it would partake of no 

 sustenance, but wandered fore and aft the decks, 

 crying for its dam in a note not unlike that the cow- 

 calf uses on similar occasions. We were at last reluc- 

 tantly compelled to kill it — stuffing the skin for a 

 memorial. The skins of these, known as the hair- 

 seal variety, are of little value intrinsically ; but, 

 being easily tanned, they were very useful to us as 

 chafing-gear for the rigging. 



Some of our savants, having either themselves 

 eaten, or having heard of other persons eating, the 

 liver of the seal, assiduously extracted, cleaned, and 



