140 SEALS AND SEAL SHOOTING 



is also used, numbers one and two being favorite 

 sizes, and giving a better pattern; very neces- 

 sary, considering that only about one inch of the 

 skull is exposed. 



Some peculiarities of these seals in the water 

 are swimming dog fashion, and when alarmed, 

 jumping six or seven feet clear out of the water. 

 The females will invariably alarm their young 

 when in danger in the water, by thus jumping 

 over them and sinking them, but there is no foun- 

 dation for the stories that are told that they 

 carry their young in their mouth like a cat or dog. 

 When basking in the sun, on a rock or shoal, they 

 will push the young over into the water with a 

 shove of the nose, on the approach of danger. 

 The best time of year to shoot them is during the 

 summer months, from July to the end of October. 

 At other times of the year, if there is any ice 

 about, their acute hearing makes it almost im- 

 possible to get near them. Not a word is ever 

 spoken between the steersman and the shooter 

 when out after them. A sign of the head or 

 hand, or a slight shake of the canoe suffices to 

 attract the attention of either. When one is 

 near, the steersman alone must propel the canoe, 

 keeping the blade of his paddle in the water all 

 the time. As the animals are very curious, they 

 seldom get away at the first sight of danger, but 

 always try and get wind of the object. I was 

 very much amused once at Little Metis, by watch- 



