AFTER THE SEAL 



In summer the hunters have a wider field, and pursue 

 their game in a manner that more nearly approaches 

 genuine fishing. In the deep bays and gulfs of the Green- 

 land coast, hundreds and thousands of seals may then be 

 seen disporting* themselves. These are principally the 

 kind known as the Atak, or Greenland seal, distinguish- 

 able by their short, wiry hair that has nothing of the semi- 

 woolliness of the common seal about it ; it is a great deal 

 larger than most of its brethren, often measuring from 

 six to eight feet in length. 



The natives, seated in their kayaks, take up a position 

 among the floating ice-blocks, to which the animals will 

 sometimes flee on seeing the boats. If possible they will 

 try to take the seals by surprise, drifting silently in 

 pursuit of single individuals. Arrived within about 

 twenty feet of one of them, the hunter sits holding an 

 oar in his left hand and a harpoon in his right ; to this 

 harpoon is attached a bladdered line, the same thing on a 

 smaller scale as that used by the Eskimos in whaling. 

 Keeping the buoyed end of the line between his knees or 

 feet, he throws the harpoon ; and, if it finds a good mark, 

 he tosses the bladder into the water. Generally the seal 

 dives, taking the bladder with it, but only for a moment ; 

 weakened by pain and loss of blood, it is less able than 

 usual to hold its breath, and soon comes to the surface 

 again, when the nearest Eskimo gives it the coup de grace 

 with a stick or lance. After a while the sea becomes 

 dotted all over with bladders, and fishing ceases for the 

 day ; the lines are collected and joined up in lots which 

 are equally divided among the kayaks, and towed ashore. 



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