SEALS AND SEAL SHOOTING 139 



over strong rapids. On the Bersimis and Moisie 

 Rivers, notably the first, I have seen them fifty 

 miles up the streams. In the St. Lawrence River 

 I saw one two miles above Three Rivers about the 

 end of September, 1891. I have also read of the 

 capture near Montreal on one or two occasions, 

 of seals, which I have no doubt were of this 

 species. Harp seals will occasionally enter the 

 mouths of large rivers, but will not remain there, 

 going out with the ebb tide. I suppose that it 

 is their familiarity with weeds and fresh water 

 plants that makes harbor seals so fearless of nets. 

 Large numbers are captured in them, more 

 than are killed with guns. Since the recent 

 increase in value of their skin, they are much 

 sought after by hunters. About three thousand 

 are now annually taken, along the coast line of 

 the County of Saguenay, but it is doubtful if they 

 will stand this drain very long. In the hunters' 

 greed for them, many are uselessly shot in fresh 

 water, where even if tolerably fat they will sink 

 like a stone. Regular professionals never shoot 

 at them, except where the bottom can be plainly 

 seen, and where it allows of them being secured 

 with long-handled harpoons. In salt water, 

 if in fair condition, they will float. The equip- 

 ment for shooting them is similar to that used for 

 the harps, care being taken to have the canoe and 

 clothing of a color that will blend as much as pos- 

 sible with the surroundings. Much smaller shot 



