118 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



With the exception of one or two, all those taken were adult seals, 

 the youngest being about four months old. 



The skin of this seal, which is very large, is used in making wig- 

 wams and for the upper part of Eskimo boots. 

 Rough Seal ( Phoca Fcetida Fab), (Natchuk, Eskimo). 



This is the most numerous of all the seals found in these waters, 

 and constitutes the principal part of the Eskimo food. 



It remains here throughout the year, but is scarce during the 

 months of February, March and April. 



The first young seal taken was on March 5th, and about this time 

 several more were found. They are born on the ice where the snow 

 is deep, the parent seal making a most comfortable house under the 

 snow. These houses are not easily found and are only detected by 

 a small mound slightly above the level of the snow. 



It is often wondered how the seal may be seen to appear on the 

 ice where only a shore time before not a hole could be seen, and some 

 writers on the subject have declared the seal makes a hole from the 

 underside of the ice, by keeping its warm nose pressed against it. 

 This appears so absurd that during my stay here a careful examina- 

 tion was made of all the seal holes that were seen, and in every in- 

 stance they were found along the line of wide cracks that are constantly 

 being formed by the ever changing tides. As will be readily under- 

 stood the water between these cracks soon freezes and becomes covered 

 with snow, and the seal keeps a hole open by constantly diving and 

 returning again to breathe. 



Many are the arts the Eskimo resorts to to capture this seal, and 

 perhaps the best is by two hunters, one of whom lies down at the 

 edge of the ice near some open water, while his companion remains 

 about ninety yards further from the edge. Here he scrapes upon the 

 ice with his spear and whistles in a low note, while the charmed seal, 

 if thei'e is one anywhere near, slowly swims towards the object at the 

 edge of the ice, and when near enough is surprised with a charge of 

 shot, a bullet or a spear. 

 Right Whale (Balmiia Mysticetus Linn). 



Only two of these whales were seen, and as the Eskimo seldom 

 meddle with them little could be learned of their habits. 



They apparently only pass here on their way to or from Hudson's 

 Bsy, and will not attempt to make the passage while there is ice in 

 the Strait. 



