SEALS AND SEAL SHOOTING 131 



that their blood does not flow freely from the small 

 shot hole in the thick skin, and forming a clot on 

 the inside soon accumulates and chokes them, 

 while when struck with a ball or large buckshot, 

 the wound is large and the blood escapes easily, 

 thereby enabling them to breathe at their ease. 

 During the months of July, August, September, 

 October and November, they are not so numerous, 

 but as I said before a few are to be seen all the 

 year round. I have been told by professional seal 

 hunters that the females have young only every 

 second year. I am inclined to doubt this state- 

 ment as it is only founded on the fact that some 

 adult females are shot during the winter without 

 young. I have often shot them myself, still i 

 do not consider this conclusive proof, as the same 

 thing is observed amongst an mammals, though 

 perhaps not quite to the same extent. From a 

 careful observation extending over several years, 

 I have found that the proportion of males to 

 females is about equal, that is judging from the 

 number killed annually at Point des Monts 

 about 350 on an average where they are shot in 

 the water. Of course when killed on the ice by 

 the sealers in February and March the number of 

 females must preponderate. This species and 

 the comon seal have only two teats and not four 

 as erroneously supposed by some. 



The Harp Seal has six upper and four lower 



