66 ADVENTURES IN THE NORTHERN SEAS. 



about five or six dollars apiece; but still the fact 

 of the animals being of some use contributed to ren- 

 der the chase of them much more exciting, as noth- 

 ing can be more distasteful or unsatisfactory to the 

 feelings of a true sportsman than taking the life of 

 any thing which is to be of no use when dead. 



When seals are in the water they are not the least 

 afraid of a boat, but come boldly up quite close to 

 it, first on one side and then on the other, as if im- 

 pressed with the deepest curiosity to see what the 

 unusual-looking object is. When they are shot 

 dead in the water, however, they sink so rapidly that 

 it is very difficult to get possession of them. The 

 most approved plan is not to fire unless the boat's 

 head is directed toward the seal and distant not 

 more than thirty yards ; then, if the men all give 

 way instantly and vigorously, you may be in time 

 to thrust or dart the harpoon into the seal before 

 he sinks, but more likely you will only be in time 

 to see him sinking far down in the clear water with 

 his tail downward. Some people compute that 

 " one half of the seals shot in the water, even with 

 skillful management, are lost;" others say "two 

 thirds ;" and, from our own experience, I am in- 

 clined to think it is two to one on the seal, or there- 

 abouts. I have several times lost six consecutive- 

 ly, and a most tantalizing proceeding it was ; but, 

 bad luck as that may seem, it is nothing ; for our 

 head harpooner, Christian, a very smart fellow, told 

 me that one day he shot dead eighteen immense 



