SEALS AND SEAL SHOOTING 141 



ing a yearling harbor seal play with an empty 

 bottle, that had been thrown overboard by one of 

 the passengers on the yacht "Swallow." I had 

 my rifle with me and was watching the bottle 

 drift until it would be far enough for a decent 

 shot. While thus occupied I saw a seal come up 

 about thirty yards from it, sniffing and peering 

 at it. At the next dive it came closer, going 

 through the same performance, till at the third 

 one it got alongside of it with a splash. It then 

 jumped over it and poked it about with its nose, 

 seemingly trying to get it under, until I put a 

 stop to its antics by taking a shot and missed it. 

 I cannot imagine what made it act so, but the 

 passenger claimed that it was the smell of the 

 "Kilmarnock," though I will not vouch for this. 

 Skilful hunters lure them by imitating their 

 call and movements, while lying on a rock 

 or sand bar frequented by them. When well per- 

 formed, and the hunter's back is covered with a 

 sealskin, they will come up to within a few feet 

 if attention is paid to the direction of the wind. 

 About dawn is the best time for this mode of hunt- 

 ing. To show how naturally the seals can be 

 imitated, I may say, that even the practical eye 

 of an Indian has been deceived. While we were 

 living at Mingan, "Natsishuk," "The one who 

 looks in the eye" Chief of that locality, was shot 

 at and nearly killed by another Indian while he 

 was thus acting seal on a rock. He was so severe- 



