142 SEALS AND SEAL SHOOTING 



ly wounded that he was laid up for six months. 

 I find harbor seal shooting, as a sport, very in- 

 teresting, the more so> as it can be followed dur- 

 ing the pleasantest season of the year and in 

 sheltered situations. To the novice it may be a 

 little disappointing at first, but he must remem- 

 ber that most sports are alike in that respect. 

 Adult seals of this species are seldom shot, except 

 at long ranges, with a rifle. A full grown one is 

 about five feet long, and weighs about one hun- 

 dred and fifty pounds, more or less, according to 

 condition. The flesh is very highly esteemed by 

 our " natives," while many others have a predi- 

 lection for its liver, which I share. The livers 

 of other species are also very palatable and not 

 poisonous as erroneously asserted by some; the 

 heart is also considered a tid bit. The oesophagus 

 and stomach are used by the ' "natives" as a water- 

 tight vessel for various purposes, oil, molasses, 

 powder, etc., being carried in them. They are 

 first washed and scraped, then blown and dried, 

 after which they are ready for use. That of a 

 large harbor seal will hold one imperial gallon, 

 but I have seen some from the larger species that 

 hold five or six gallons. 



(Srgpus ( 



Seals of this species are presumably so named 

 from a slight resemblance of the head to that of 

 the horse, especially noticeable in old males. 



