ACTIVITY OF THE SEAL. 509 



scratching furiously with its fore-paws. And if its antagonist should endeavor to cut 

 off its retreat, it will boldly fling itself upon him, and endeavor by the violence of its 

 onset to bear him to the ground. 



Should the beach be composed of pebbles or shingles, it is the hunter's best policy 

 to face the animal, and trust to his cudgel for stunning the Seal as it comes along. 

 For when the Seal is galloping along the beach after its own rapid but awkward 

 fashion, it flings the stones behind it with such violence that the pursuer can hardly 

 escape from receiving severe blows from these strangely-launched missiles. Some 

 writers suppose that the Seal uses this mode of defence wittingly, but the general 

 opinion on the subject is, that the peculiar gait of the animal is the cause of this 

 Parthian assault, without any voluntary intention on the part of the Seal itself. 



On the British coasts the chase of the Seal is but of local importance, but on the 

 shore of Newfoundland it assumes a different aspect, and becomes an important branch 

 of commercial enterprise, employing many vessels annually. In a successful season 

 the number of Seals which are taken amount to many hundred thousand. A large 

 quantity of oil is obtained from the bodies of the Seals, and is used for varjous 

 purposes, while their skins are of considerable value either when tanned into leather or 

 when prepared with the fur, and used for making various articles of dress and luxury. 



SEAL. Phoca vttullna. 



On the British coasts Seal-shooting is much followed, and is thought to be a very 

 exciting pursuit, requiring much steadiness of nerve as well as strength of body and 

 quickness of eye. 



So quick is the animal in its movements, that with the old flint-lock guns the sports- 

 man could seldom succeed in killing a Seal ; for at the flash of the powder in the pan 

 the Seal would instantly dive below the surface, leaving the bullet to speed harmlessly 

 over its head. With the present weapons the Seal may be readily killed, provided 

 that the hunter be able to take a rapid and certain aim in spite of the rocking of his 

 boat or the movements of the Seal. It is no easy matter to hit a Seal, even at the 

 short range of a hundred yards, for the creature exposes but little of its person above 

 the surface of the water, and if alarmed, does not remain exposed for more than a few 

 seconds. 



It is very tenacious of life, and requires a heavy missile to kill it upon the spot, the 

 ordinary " pea rifles " being of little use for such a purpose. Should the Seal not be 

 killed immediately, the sportsman will never obtain possession of his prey, and even 

 when a well directed shot has instantaneously deprived the animal of life, it will often 



