ACTIVITY OF THE SEAL. 405 



the possibility of resistance. So cunning as well as active is the Common Seal, that one of 

 these animals will coolly hang about the fishing grounds throughout the season, make itself 

 familiar with all the turns and angles of the nets, and avail itself of their help in capturing 

 the fish on which it is desirous to make a meal. 



A crafty old Seal will sometimes continue this predatory mode of existence for a series of 

 years, until his person becomes familiar to the fishermen, and will carry out his depredations 

 with such consummate skill that the fishermen can find no opportunity for stopping his career 

 > with a rifle-bullet or a fish-spear. Seals have been known in this maimer to haunt the salmon 

 fisheries as long as the nets were down, and when the fishing season was over, and the nets 

 had been removed, have been seen to ascend the rivers for some miles, in order to devour the 

 spawning fish. 



There is a curious tradition among the inhabitants of the Irish coast respecting the Seal, 

 which constantly haunts the same spot through a series of many years. 



They think that the animal is supernaturally protected from harm of any kind ; — that 

 bullets will not strike him, however well the gun be aimed ; that steel will not enter his body, 

 however keen the blade, or however strong the arm that urges it ; and that the long array of 

 nets are powerless to retain so puissant a being in their manifold meshes. So after a while a 

 Seal, if he be only bold and wary, may lead a luxurious life at the fishermen's cost, for no one 

 will venture to attack an animal that bears a charmed life. 



Fortunately for the Seals in general, they are not often visited by the wrath of those whom 

 they rob, for there is a feeling prevalent among many fishermen that to kill a Seal is unlucky, 

 and that such a deed would prevent the murderer from obtaining any more success at sea. 

 This humane idea seems, however, to extend no further than the regular fishing grounds, for 

 the chase of the Seal has long taken its place among the most valuable of commercial specula- 

 tions, and is of extreme importance. 



The general mode of securing these creatures is to land quietly, and to cut off the return 

 of the terrified animals, which are quickly despatched by smart blows from a bludgeon across 

 their nose. When driven to desperation, they fight savagely, and a single Seal is no mean 

 antagonist for a man, provided that he is not a practical Seal-hunter. The creature has an 

 awkward way of lying on its side, shuffling rapidly along, and 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 our coasts the chase of the Seal is but of local importance, but on the shore of New- 

 foundland 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 various 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. 



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 sportsman 

 coiild 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. 



