216 ANT1COSTL 



rolled about, and kicked up his heels, to attract the 

 animal's attention. These pantomimes seldom failed to 

 allure the animal within 30 or 40 yards, when a bullet 

 just at the butt of the ear generally did for him. Seals 

 are wary, but very inquisitive. They will follow a man 

 walking along the beach, or a canoe, for ever so long, 

 popping up their shiny heads every now and then, but 

 they dive wonderfully quickly when they see a gun 

 pointed at them. I have seen them following a bear; the 

 bear did not pay the least attention to them. Bruin 

 dearly loves a fat seal, but he knows he cannot catch 

 them in the water. In sunny weather their delight is to 

 bask on the rocks. I have seen twenty or thirty on one 

 surf-washed rock, grunting and rolling about in an absurd 

 way. A round seal in good condition yields five gallons of 

 oil, and a ' horse-head ' about twenty or thirty. They are 

 at their best in May, g,nd are also very easily killed at 

 that season, as they come on shore to cub. The Indians 

 stealthily approach the poor beasts from behind, and kill 

 them with a single blow on the head. They are very 

 easily killed by a blow in the right spot ; but a muff may 

 cudgel a seal for half an hour without killing it. The 

 Indians are very fond of the hind flipper roasted, and they 

 also cut the flesh into long strips and dry it in the sun. I 

 think it very nasty ; but everyone to his taste. I see the 

 following ' memo ' in my note-book as regards seal shoot- 

 ing : ' If ever you go to Anticosti again, don't shoot seals. 

 The temptation is no doubt great ; but the Indians will 

 make oil. What of that ? Why, every cooking utensil 

 you possess is pressed into the service, and although 

 seal-oil pancakes (flour and oil) are well enough once 



