84 SEAL -SHOOTING. 



row up and seize a flipper. When the shooter 

 has no boat, and does not possess the alternative 

 of a large retriever dog, he should never fire at 

 seals unless in places where, if killed, they can 

 be recovered when the tide ebbs. 



The sight of seals is not quick, but their other 

 senses of scent and hearing are most a*cute. In 

 stalking, either from land or water, they are more 

 difficult of approach than deer ; and in a calm 

 day the creak or splash of an oar instantly puts 

 the basking shoal on their guard, when they roll 

 helter-skelter into the brine. As they can wind 

 you at a mile's distance, coming on them to wind- 

 ward is out of the question ; for on the scent 

 warning that the enemy is dangerously near, they 

 shuffle from the rocks into the safety of the 

 deep. Although long aware of threatened danger, 

 they are often too lethargic to fly until it really 

 becomes imminent, but this laziness never tempts 

 them to be so foolhardy as to risk their life. 



A dead calm is, of course, best for seal-shooting 

 from a boat, but a favourable breeze is an advan- 

 tage, should the shoal be sunning themselves on 

 the rocks ; in which case, when afloat, always try 



