372 LABRADOR 



is probably only an ornament like a crest. Some think it 

 is specially provided to protect its nose from seal bats or 

 clubs, of course an impossible theory, for sufficient time 

 has not yet elapsed for Nature to have evolved armour 

 against the sealers in the ice-field, any more than she has 

 yet provided for the ideal requirements of twentieth century 

 foot-ball man. The hood seal has been so far exterminated 

 in its favourite resort between Greenland and Iceland, that 

 the fishery has had to be abandoned. 



This seal displays great strength, courage, and affection in 

 defending its young, and I have seen a whole family die 

 together on a pan of ice not twelve yards square. Four 

 men with wooden seal bats did the killing, but not before 

 the male had caught one club in his mouth and cleared his 

 enemies off the pan by swinging it from side to side. The 

 old seal, which must have weighed fully two thousand 

 pounds, was hoisted on board whole (or unsculped), so as 

 not to delay the steamer. He was apparently quite dead. 

 As, however, he came, over the rail, the strap broke, and 

 he fell back into the sea. The cold water must have re- 

 vived him, for I saw him return to the same pan of ice, 

 distinguishable by the blood stains left by the recent 

 battle, and now some little distance astern. The edge 

 of the pan was almost six feet above water, but he leaped 

 clear over the edge, and landed almost in the spot where 

 his family had met their tragic fate. The men immediately 

 ran back and killed him with bullets. He was this time 

 sculped, and so brought aboard. 



The strength of the hood seal is also well illustrated by 

 the fact that he can descend for food to a depth of sixty 

 or even ninety fathoms. This is shown by the fact that a 



