SEALING EXPEDITIONS BY WATER. 433 



being swamped was over, the old man began to look about 

 him, when he found to his great joy that the beast was 

 making for the identical rock from whence it had shortly 

 before taken its departure, and on reaching which it crept 

 slowly to the very spot where it had received its wound. 

 Persson now unfastened the harpoon line, and rowed his 

 boat to the place where his gun lay, with which, having 

 reloaded it, he soon put an end to the miseries of the 

 monster. Every time the old man related this adventure 

 he took off his cap in thankfulness to Providence for 

 his miraculous escape ; and after remaining silent for 

 some time, he said : ' That seal produced me a whole 

 barrel of oil.' " 



In the Baltic, more especially in the Gulf of Bothnia, 

 the hunters, during winter, often club together and make 

 long sealing expeditions, lasting frequently many weeks, 

 or, it may be, two or three months. Several boats usually 

 keep company, so that, in the event of one being jeopard- 

 ized, the others may be ready to render assistance ; and in 

 most instances the several crews agree among themselves 

 to share alike in the spoil. 



The boat used for the purpose is eight fathoms in 

 length from stem to stern, and, though constructed of 

 light materials, is strongly put together. The keel is shod 

 with iron, that it may be the more readily drawn on the 

 ice, as must of necessity often happen. It is provided with 

 mast, sail, cable, &c., as also with one or more snipor, or 

 punts, which are sharp at both ends, so that they can be 

 rowed either way, and are so small and light that two 

 men can not only draw one where they please, but carry 

 it on their shoulders. The boat itself has usually a crew 

 of eight men, the most experienced of whom takes the 

 command. It is provisioned for several weeks, the food 

 being of the simplest kind; consisting of bread baked 

 to the consistency of biscuit, butter, cheese, dried or 



2 F 



