SEALS AT PLAY. 461 



Bay, Dr. Kane fell in with a great company of seals. 

 Hundreds of all varieties were disporting themselves in 

 absolute freedom. Generally they were to be seen 

 paddling about alone, but sometimes in groups, like a 

 party of school-boys frolicking in the village-pond. One 

 of their favourite sports was " treading water," rising 

 breast-high, keeping up a boisterous and indefatigable 

 splashing, and stretching out their necks in an attitude 

 of eager curiosity. 



Some of the younger of these poor sea-dogs had just 

 the honest expression of their land-brethren, the Eskimos ; 

 in others, the truncation of the muzzle, with an external 

 ear showing behind it, set their faces in almost perfect 

 and human-like oval. Now and then, an imprudent seal 

 would rise up out of the water near the hunters, and, 

 lifting up his head and shoulders, that stooped like those 

 of a hooded Eskimo, would gaze steadily at them with 

 his liquid eye ; then diving, come up a little nearer, and 

 stare again ; so gradually approaching, and rising and 

 diving alternately, would come within musket-shot, to 

 fall a victim to his ungovernable curiosity. 



A curious mode of fishing is practised by the natives 

 of Gothland, and of the other isles in the upper waters of 

 the Baltic. 



In March and April, when the ice begins to give way, 

 they assemble in numerous companies, and set forth on 

 their seal-hunting expeditions in iron-keeled galleys, at- 

 tended by light boats which draw but little water. They 

 are provided with a supply of food, and with powder, 

 shot, guns, and harpoons. Pushing to the northward, 

 they get entangled in the narrow channels intersecting 



