OLD WHALING DAYS. 169 



the ice in that direction, with the main body of seals upon 

 it. We cruised about a day or two but found no trace of 

 them. We were boring into the heavy pack under canvas 

 and going about two knots an hour, and passed pieces of 

 ice with numbers of young seals upon them. Our latitude 

 at noon showed us to be in Lat. 69 10' N., one hundred 

 and ten miles southward of the island, yet it was distinctly 

 seen from the deck. 



The seals were now in their best condition, their mothers 

 having left them to provide for themselves ; we knew that 

 any day they might leave the ice and migrate further north, 

 which they usually do when they are three weeks old. On 

 account of it being Sunday, the captain very reluctantly 

 gave his consent to us killing them. 



In a few minutes everybody was on the ice with his club, 

 knife, steel, and line, called a " lowery tow," which is used 

 for dragging the seals on board. By 8 p.m. we had killed 

 i, 800 seals. The ice was now tightly packed, but there 

 was a long heavy swell. All hands retired to rest, with the 

 exception of three men, who were on watch to give timely 

 warning in case of necessity. 



Although the heavy swell caused the ship to thump on 

 the ice, it did not disturb our slumber. At daybreak all 

 hands were called to get breakfast, and then commenced 

 another day of slaughter. 



Eight or ten men, who were not accustomed to the work, 

 were unable to get out of their beds, on account of the 

 sinews of their limbs being contracted. The first day or 

 two affects everyone more or less. 



Sealing is very laborious work, especially to those who 

 are not familiar to it. When there is much snow on the 

 ice, and a swell, it is very dangerous, and great care must be 

 taken when a man jumps from one piece to another, for, if 

 he should fall between them, he would be crushed to death 

 in a moment. The weather was extremely cold, which 



