462 FISHING IN THE NORTH. 



the ice, and hauling their vessels upon the floes, drag 

 them across its humrnocky surface by sheer physical 

 labour. Meanwhile, the light craft go ahead to explore 

 the labyrinth, while trained dogs disperse in all directions 

 to drive the seals from their hiding-places. If the hunters 

 encounter them upon the ice, they knock them down with 

 their clubs before they can slip through the air-holes or 

 escape to their retreats ; but if they take to the water, 

 the more experienced hunters spring into their boats, and 

 endeavour to harpoon them ; while others, posted on the 

 ice, watch the various crevasses through which the animals 

 disappear, or fire at them on their coming to the surface, 

 and drag ashore the killed or wounded. Sometimes, when 

 he misses his aim, the hunter fares ill at the hands of the 

 phoca, which, ordinarily mild, and even timorous, grows 

 furious under incessant provocation, and turns upon its 

 assailant. 



In the northern seal-fisheries the hardy seamen of the 

 Shetland Isles participate. The Greenland ships, chiefly 

 from Dundee and Peterhead, arrive in Lerwick harbour 

 towards the end of February or the beginning of March, 

 in order to complete their crews with these skilful and 

 resolute sons of the sea. Their number is now from 

 fifteen to twenty, though formerly much larger, and each 

 vessel engages from twenty to thirty Shetlandmen. Dur- 

 ing their stay in Bressay Sound, writes Dr. Cowie, large 

 numbers of men and lads flock to Lerwick from all parts 

 of Shetland, each eager to obtain a berth. Since the 

 number of ships employed in the fishery was reduced, 

 berths have become more difficult to be obtained, and, 

 consequently, the masters have been able to " pick " their 



