SEAL-HUNTING. 315 



ed stationary, watching our motions with dubious eyes. 

 When within fifty yards, the men ceased pulling, and per- 

 mitted the boat to forge ahead with her own way. Pull- 

 ing the tiller-lines so as to alter the course, I got a clean 

 shot, and turned the ungainly, awkward brute over; but 

 his struggles carried him down the incline till he fell in the 

 water, when he sunk immediately. After much difficulty 

 we managed to get him out, and on examination found the 

 ball had pierced the skull a little above the right eye. His 

 weight must have been upward of three hundred pounds, 

 and the quantity of grease that came from the carcass as 

 we divested him of his pelt was surprising. The hide of 

 these animals makes most excellent shoes when properly 

 tanned ; and I have been told that nothing in the shape of 

 leather is so capable of turning water. One shot was suffi- 

 cient to expel the seals from their haunt, so we returned 

 shoreward. However, just as we were about to land, a 

 youngster popped up his head, which I let drive at, but 

 without precision. 



The flies to-day continued very annoying, and the irrita- 

 tion caused by their bites itched so severely that it affected 

 the majority of our tempers ; the only respite that could be 

 obtained was when out on the water, where the draught of 

 air had full scope. Oh that some one versed in the lik- 

 ings and dislikes of these insidious foes would find a meth- 

 od that would protect the angler from these pests when he 

 is enjoying a trip that has no other drawbacks ! To de- 

 scribe my sufferings would be impossible ; suffice it to say 

 that my actions were sufficient to cause a physician to im- 

 agine me fit for incarceration in a lunatic asylum. Even 

 now I can scarcely revert to the subject without feeling in- 

 clined to scratch myself. 



Revenons d nos moutons. With salmon-fishing the im- 

 aginary moment of victory is frequently the precursor of 



