THE SEAL AND WHALE FISHERY OF 1883. 295 



interesting problems, which have their fhilosophical as well as 

 their jjhysical side. Into any consideration of philosophical 

 problems, however, I cannot here enter. 



NOTES ON THE SEAL AND WHALE FISHERY OF 1883. 

 By Thomas Southwell, F.Z.S. 



The beautiful models and graphic sketches of the stirring 

 events which characterise the pursuit of the young Seals on 

 the Labrador ice, exhibited last summer at the Inter- 

 national Fisheries Exhibition in South Kensington, convej^ed 

 a much more accurate impression of the mode of procedure 

 followed in this exciting occupation than any written descrii^tion, 

 however elaborate ; and from the constant interest displayed by 

 the crowds who attentively inspected the models and drawings it 

 is probable that many of the visitors left the building much 

 enlightened with regard to an industry of which previously they 

 had known next to nothing. But, however bad a time of it the 

 poor Seals might seem to be having in the groups depicted, all 

 seemed to be going merrily enough with the sealers, such little 

 events as an immersion in the icy sea, or a fight with some hard- 

 headed old " dog" only lending diversity to the scene. 



There is, however, another side to the picture which no pencil 

 could depict nor model adequately convey. Fast in the pitiless 

 ice which tightens round her lies the good ship, her timbers 

 groaning with the strain as though the vessel were instinct with 

 life and feeling, the thick ice — crumpled by the pressure like 

 sheets of paper, and its broken edges rafting one upon the other 

 till there seems no escape from its overwhelming rush — every 

 moment threatening to close over the shivering vessel and add 

 one more to the list of the missing. All this time the crew, 

 in spite of the darkness, cold, and blinding drift, are working 

 steadily at their posts striving to relieve the ship, or preparing 

 for a hasty flight to the ice should the worst happen ; yet so 

 capricious is the weather and the motion of the ice that a change 

 may come at any moment, and the vessel be relieved from her 

 perilous position. Or it may be that the majority of the crew 

 are away on the ice ; a gale comes on, and the heavy fall of snow 



