150 SEALS AND SEAL SHOOTING 



with the vessel. Five or six of the hunters would 

 then take their position near the bow, and while 

 the seal's attention would be directed to the mass 

 of canvas above him, a whole broadside would be 

 fired at ten or fifteen yards. For some years past 

 I have not been able to devote any time to seal 

 shooting, but I have heard from others that the 

 number of hoods has very much decreased near 

 PointedesMonts owing, it is believed, to the num- 

 bers now killed in the Gulf by Newfoundland 

 sealing steamers. I should be very sorry to see 

 them disappear from our waters, because they are 

 fearless and plucky, and in my estimation, as 

 game animals, far ahead of any black bears I have 

 ever met. 



