SEAL, SHARK, AND DOG FISHERIES. 353 



The parifti minifter hath his choice of all the young 

 feals, and that which he takes is called by the na- 

 tives, Cullen Mory, that is, the Virgin Mary's feal. 

 The fteward of the ifland hath one paid to him, his 

 officer hath another, and this by virtue of their offi- 

 ces. Thefe farmers man their boats with a compe- 

 tent number, fit for the bufmefs, and they always 

 embark with a contrary wind, for their fecurity 

 againft being driven away by the ocean ; and like- 

 wife to prevent their being dilcovered by the feals, 

 who are apt to fmell the fcent of them, and prefently 

 run to fea. 



When this crew is quietly landed, they furround 

 the pafles, and then the fignal for the general attack 

 is given from the boat, and ib they beat them down 

 with big (laves. The feals at this onfct make to- 

 wards the fea with all fpeed, and often force their 

 pafiage over the necks of the ftouteft afiailants, who 

 aim always at the forehead of the feals, giving many 

 blows before they be killed, and if they be not hit ex- 

 actly on the front they contract a lump on their 

 foreheads which makes them look very fierce ; and 

 if they get hold of the ftarT with their teeth, they 

 carry it along to fea with them.* Thofe that are 

 in the boat, (hoot at them as they run to fea, but 

 few are catched that way. The natives told me that 

 fcveral of the biggeft feals lole their lives by endea- 

 vouring to lave their young ones, whom they tumble 

 before them towards the fea. I was told alfo that 

 320 feals, young and old, have been killed at one 

 time in this place. The reaibns of attacking them 

 in October is, becaufe in the beginning of this 



* There is great cruelty in this imperfect method of conducing 

 the leal fiiliery. The leals, \\hile endeavouring to lave their young, 

 are knocked on the head with flicks or ftaves, which, though often 

 repeated, does not always prove effectual, and thus the poor ani- 

 mal efcapes in tortures, which inhuman man hath no right to in- 

 flier. Let thole perfons be obliged to ufe clubs headed with iron, 

 by which the bulmefs will be done inftantly and effectually. 



' month 



