450 HAZARDS OF THE SEA. 



the starboard side of her deck being actually in the 

 water : had she been caught in a gale, and not been 

 speedily lightened, she must have foundered. Her crew 

 numbered 200, and shared upwards of 39 per man. In 

 the spring of 1871, the sailing-brig Glengarry, belonging 

 to the same owners, brought in 10,494 seals; but her 

 crew, bein^ fewer in number, shared .53 each. In 1873, 

 the steamer Eagle, owned by Browning Brothers, brought 

 in over 30,000 seals : and about the same time, the 

 steamer Neptune, belonging to Job Brothers and Co., 

 gathered on her first trip 29,136 seals, and going out 

 again, returned from her second trip with 12,326 ; the 

 total weight being 913 tons, and the value 27,906, 

 5s. 3d. 



The hazards of the sea are notorious, and the sealers 

 are exposed to great variations of fortune, and numerous 

 forms of peril. One day they will be rejoicing, for all 

 around and about them are large herds of seals ; the 

 next day they may mourn, for not a phoca will be in 

 sight ! Of course, the reverse not infrequently occurs, 

 and a vessel which one day has found the ice-fields as 

 desolate as a volcanic peak, discovers them, next morn- 

 ing, swarming, teeming with life. 



As for danger, the sealers have stout hearts and strong 

 frames, are quick of eye and keen of wit ; yet the ship 

 that sailed from harbour in gallant trim often lies a 

 shattered wreck among the ice-floes, and few of her crew 

 return to tell the story of her fate. " The time for pro- 

 secuting the voyage is brief; therefore every hour is 

 precious, and every mile gained of value. Accordingly, 

 once under weigh, the skipper of a sealer enjoys no rest, 



