SEALS AND SEAL-HUNTING. 113 



A small herd of tang-fish was lying on a rock within 

 easy range of some large boulders in the ebb, close to 

 the water's edge, to which, with infinite labour and cir- 

 cumspection, my relative had crept. Yery cautiously, 

 his piece on a good rest, he took a well-calculated aim 

 at the seals, lying close together in a particularly favour- 

 able position, and fired. The first bullet killed no 

 fewer than three, and the second ball struck, but did 

 not kill, two others, which floundered into the water 

 and escaped ; but the other three were secured. 



The most extraordinary hour's sport I have ever 

 heard of was that of a young Shetlander, a few years 

 ago. Eeports of it had reached me ; but they seemed so 

 incredible, that I thought they must be exaggerated. 

 I therefore wrote to the gentleman himself for the par- 

 ticulars ; so I can vouch for the accuracy of what I am 

 going to relate. I quote from his letter : 



" My evening sport at Muckla Skerry was certainly 

 a good one. I started from the Whalsay Skerries 

 about five o'clock of an evening about the end of 

 August or first of September 1881. "When nearing 

 the rock, I could see with a glass that it was almost 

 covered with seals — I should say there would have 

 been eighty or more — but all took to the water before 

 a shot was fired, and while we were three to four 

 hundred yards off, and were soon sporting about the 

 boat, but keeping at a respectable distance. It had 

 been perfectly calm for some days, and the sea was 

 like a mirror. I fired eight shots from a short Enfield 

 rifle with government ball cartridge. Two shots missed 



