viii. SEALS AND SEA-LIONS. 117 



times called), which are closely related to the sea-lions, 

 but which, unlike them, are characterized by a thick 

 covering of close, curly under fur. Different species of 

 these fur seals are found on the coast of South-America, 

 at the Cape of Good Hope, in the New Zealand and 

 Australian Seas, round the islands of Kerguelen and Juan 

 Fernandez, and in the North Pacific. Of the latter 

 species alone the number that annually visit St. Paul's 

 and St. George's of the Prybilov Islands is estimated at 

 not less than five millions. 



The natives employed in the seal-fishery select a group 

 of young bachelor seals, which do not haul up very far 

 from the water, and quickly and craftily running in 

 between them and the surf, cut them off from the water 

 and turn them inland. The timid creatures, startled 

 from sleep, seeing the men between them and the water, 

 lope and scramble back, with many a flop, hitch, and 

 wobble over the land. Thus a drove of some thousands 

 may be formed, to be driven inland to the killing grounds. 

 It's a bad business, that driving. The poor creatures are 

 forced on, panting and helpless. They are allowed to rest 

 from time to time to cool down lest the fur should be 

 spoiled ; but many a poor creature is left behind breathless 

 and spent to die of sheer exhaustion or to be more mer- 

 cifully (if we may here dare to speak of mercy) clubbed. 

 Looking at a drove of sea-lions (which are driven in a 

 similar way) a soldier once observed to Captain Bryant 

 " This is the first thing I have ever seen or heard that 

 realizes my youthful conception of the torments of the 

 condemned in purgatory.'"' Captain Scammon, describing 

 a drove of sea-lions, says that they were at length all 

 despatched, " save one young sea-lion, which was spared 

 to see whether he would make any resistance by being 

 driven over the hills beyond. The poor creature only 



