SEALS 199 



like vultures after a time. As soon as a seal 

 was killed, they clustered on the body, and it 

 was necessary to drive them away before we 

 could skin the animal. As soon as that opera- 

 tion was ended, the birds commenced to fight 

 over the remains. 



The petrels still escorted us when we returned 

 aboard, and Rachlew captured several of them 

 with a hand net. We placed them on the 

 bridge, from which they could not escape, there 

 being insufficient space for them to spring. 

 Not that they desired to escape ! For as soon 

 as they saw the skins they flung themselves 

 upon them and commenced feeding. 



From this little expedition I brought back 

 thirty-five skins. 



Unfortunately, I had lost several animals, 

 old males for the most part, which I had been 

 compelled to fire at from a great distance. 

 It is extremely difficult to kill an old male with 

 a single shot, even when within quite easy range. 



We took some tea, and then set out again, to 

 the delight of the sailors, whose wages would be 

 augmented by the price obtained for the seal 

 grease. Even before leaving the deck, I shot 

 five more seals that came to inspect the ship. 



This second expedition also proved very 

 successful. 



