i8o HUNTERS AND HUNTING IN THE ARCT1 



in 1909, often grows to a length of from six to 

 twelve feet, sometimes even more. When it is 

 in fat, its body becomes cylindrical, giving it the 

 appearance of an enormous leech. Its head 

 then almost vanishes from sight. When it is 

 thin, however, its hind fins are detached, 

 enabling it to raise the anterior part of its body, 

 and then it presents a truly imposing aspect. 



Of my first meeting with the barbata seal 

 to the north of Spitzbergen in 1909 I preserve 

 a splendid trophy. 



We had just escaped ice which had im- 

 prisoned us for eight days in Treuremberg Bay, 

 and were navigating a channel through an ice- 

 field towards Outer Norway Island, where the 

 shipwrecked crew of the Swanen awaited us. 

 The skipper, Jonas, signalled from the crow's- 

 nest the appearance of a large seal on a floe 

 away to the larboard ; we lowered the Norwegian 

 boat and pulled towards it. 



A Norwegian hunting boat has neither helm 

 nor tiller; the oarsman nearest the stern sits facing 

 forward and steers the boat with his two oars. 



When the boat comes within a certain 

 distance of the seal, the men ship their oars 

 and crouch at the bottom, while the steersman 

 continues to row slowly, and the sportsman in 

 the bows waits until he is within range. 



