CHANGES IN THE SEAL-FISHERY. 453 



leaping-pole in springing from one ice-floe to another ; or 

 when he finds himself sinking through some treacherously 

 thin crust, he flings his gaff across it, and holds on until 

 help arrives, or he succeeds in clambering on to a sounder 

 piece of ice. Sometimes, however, the gaff gives way, 

 and the sealer disappears for ever. 



Every year a marked decrease is observable in the 

 number of sailing-vessels employed in the fishery. On 

 the other hand, the number and size of the steamers is 

 constantly on the increase. The consequence is, that a 

 large body of men will annually be thrown out of em- 

 ployment, since it is not probable that a sufficient fleet 

 of steamers will ever be despatched to provide berths for 

 so great a number of men as were employed by the sail- 

 ing-ships. The steam fleet at present takes about 8500 

 men, and the sailing fleet about the same. Fifteen years 

 ago the number employed was nearly 15,000. As the 

 quantity of seals that visit the coast cannot furnish re- 

 munerative cargoes for many more steamers, it may be 

 assumed says our authority that on the extinction of 

 the sailing fleet not more than 5000 men will obtain 

 berths, fully an equal number thus losing, as they term 

 it, " their chance at the ice"; a serious matter for con- 

 sideration to the political economists of a country whose 

 population is increasing. There are not wanting prophets 

 of evil who predict that by the employment of steamers 

 the seals will speedily be exterminated ; and though this 

 is probably an extreme supposition, it is certain that the 

 supply is not inexhaustible, and that the seal-fishery, like 

 the whale-fishery, if not more economically pursued, will 

 grow less anjl less profitable. 



