OCEAN SEAL. 165 



birth to their young, and reared them for some 

 time, they disappear with the ice, in the great frozen 

 ocean, leaving only the young ones, which remain 

 till the ice which adheres to the shore is thawed, 

 when they too' follow the others. The fishers report 

 that round Nova Zembla, where the ice abounds, 

 some are to b seen at all seasons of the year. 



This Seal, according to our author, is hunted for 

 its skin and fat. The skins of the full grown are 

 used as covers to writing desks, whilst those of the 

 young are manufactured into hose, for they are very 

 tenacious, and when properly prepared, they keep 

 out wet better even than prepared calf-skin. The 

 fat is very useful to curriers. 



