132 SEALS AND SEAL SHOOTING 



incisors, four canine teeth and ten molars in each 

 jaw. 



The length of a full grown harp seal is about 

 seven feet and the weight three hundred pounds 

 if in prime condition, nearly one-half of this be- 

 ing solid fat. I once killed one that yielded 

 eighteen gallons of oil, but this was much above 

 the average. To the initiated, seal shooting is 

 very fascinating sport, in spite of the numerous 

 dangers attending it. which in the estimation of 

 some hunters, only add zest to it. Off Point des 

 Monts, where most of my shooting was done for 

 some years, we killed most of our seals in open 

 water, though now and then some would be killed 

 on the ice. The necessary outfit was a light can- 

 oe, either wood or birch bark, 14 feet long, three 

 hardwood paddles, a spare one in case of a 

 break, one harpoon with light handle, eight feet 

 long, and three or four fathoms of quarter inch 

 rope attached to it ; one barbless hook, made out of 

 three-eighth inch round bar steel and bent sharply 

 with a long shank and point and two fathoms of 

 rope; a large bore gun, 10 guage or heavier ac- 

 cording to the fancy of the shooter, and cartrid- 

 ges loaded with SSG to A shot. Some guns per- 

 form better with some of the sizes between, such as 

 AAA or AAAA, and as the penetration must be 

 good, they should always be tested. During my 

 first winter's hunting I used a 10 guage double 

 barrelled gun, but after that I gave preference to 



