156 FISHERIES OF THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC 



come the prey of the hunters. For two days the crews of 

 these two schooners continued their hunt, until they had load- 

 ed both vessels with as many of the carcasses as they could 

 possibly hold. Though they carried away with them 18,000 

 dead seals, several thousands were left alive on the ice. The 

 hunting party reached port in safety after an absence of 

 twelve days, the extent of their triumph being only limited 

 by the carrying capacity of the schooners, and by the fact 

 that some of their oil was wasted because of an insufficiency 

 of casks at the settlement to contain it. 



At least three varieties of seals frequent the waters of 

 Newfoundland, Labrador and the Gulf of St. Lawrnce, the 

 harbor or bay seal (phoca vitulina), of an average length of 

 three or four feet; the harp seal (Phoca Groenlandica) t 

 averaging five to six feet long, and the hooded seal (Phoca 

 leonina), this latter often attaining a length of nine feet and 

 more. The harbor seal is common in the mouths of the rivers 

 flowing into the Gulf and lower St. Lawrence, and is often 

 taken in nets. Commercially it is of small importance 



The harp and the hooded seal are the objects of the great 

 spring seal hunt; the more common, and at the same time 

 the more valuable being the harp seal. It is so called from 

 its broad curved line of connected dark spots proceeding 

 from each shoulder, and meeting on the back above the tail, 

 forming a figure something like an ancient harp. 



The hood seal is much larger than the harp. The male,, 

 called by the hunters "the dog-hood," is distinguished from 

 the female by a singular bag or hood of flesh on his nose. 

 When attacked or enraged, he inflates this hood, so as to cover 

 the face and eyes, and it is strong enough to resist seal shot. 

 When thus protected, he can only be killed by shooting him in 

 the neck and the base of the skull. The dog-hood fights 

 desperately in defence of his mate and young ones, and, if 

 they are killed, he becomes furious, inflates his hood, while 

 his nostrils dilate into two huge bladders. His appearance is 

 now terrific, and with uncouth, floundering leaps he rushes 

 on his foe. Instances have occurred where a fight between 



