CARNARIA. CARNIVORA. 115 



the oil has been drawn off, is rejected under the 

 name of scruncheons. The skins divested of fat, 

 are salted in layers, in which state they are exported 

 to England, to be used either as furs, or to be 

 tanned into coarse leather. The value of pale seal 

 oil in the island, may average 251. per tun ; and 

 salted skins 50/. per thousand. A vessel of one 

 hundred and twenty tons, will bring in five thou- 

 sand young seals : which, averaging 6s. 6d. each, 

 produces 16251. Half of this is divided equally 

 among the crew, who, however, pay from 20s. to 30s. 

 each for their berth ; the other half belongs to the 

 owner, who if he be also master, receives a man's 

 share besides. A hired master has no share, but 

 usually receives 4?d. or 6d. per seal, on the whole 

 cargo. A few of the earliest discharged go out 

 on a second trip, but this is rarely very productive, 

 as by the middle of May, all must be home to pre- 

 pare for the cod-fishery. 



The Seal appears, from many authorities, to 

 possess much intelligence, combined with docility, 

 gentleness, and affection. Monsieur F. Cuvier gives 

 some touching details of the manners of a Marbled 

 Seal (P. Discolor), which was living in the royal 

 menagerie. He says, " Except in some monkeys, I 

 have never known any wild animal which was more 

 easily tamed, or attached itself more strongly. When 

 it first came to the Jardin des Plantes, it endeavoured 

 to escape when I wished to touch it ; but in a very 

 few days all its apprehensions vanished ; it had dis- 

 covered my intentions, and rather desired my caresses 



