420 



THE SEAL-HOOK. 



will be readily understood, is covered with sea-weed, and 

 when, therefore, the seal, tired of contending \\ith the 

 waves, seeks in all innocence to rest its wearied limbs on 

 what it takes to be a rock, the trap-door T. swings on its 

 axle, and the yawning gulf beneath presently receives the 

 poor animal; and as the aperture through which it falls is 

 at once closed again, the trap is in readiness to receive 

 others of its comrades who may allow themselves to he 

 similarly beguiled. 



TIII: -i M. MI'K. 



In certain parts of the Norwegian coast, and probably 

 elsewhere in Scandinavia, seals arc raptured by means of 

 barbed hooks, in the manner depicted nho\r. .Fig- I 

 shows the hook used for the purpose. These, Hosted tells 

 us, should be made of tough iron or steel of at least the 

 thickness of one's linger, with shanks some ci-hteen 

 inches in length. They must neerssirily he large 

 to penetrate the //W>. as, if only lodged in the skin or 



