38 SEALS OF THE SHETLAND ISLANDS. 



Seal, by being set near the rocks frequented by them, while 

 they are absent, and lying in wait till they again approach 

 the shore, but it is chiefly used for catching the Great Seal. 

 The dimensions of the net are about 15 fathoms long and 

 5 broad, the meshes are 9 inches square, and it is made 

 of strong cod-line. When the seals are suspected to have 

 brought forth in a cave, the net is rapidly and silently 

 dropped across the entrance. A man holding a rope attach- 

 ed to its upper ends is placed on each side, on some conve- 

 nient pinnacle of rock that affords footing. Sometimes, 

 from the shelving of the sides of the cave, the net cannot 

 easily close it, and in this case the men hold each a long 

 pole, with a bunch of straw or other substance at the end, 

 keeping it constantly in motion under water, to deter the 

 animal from escaping by means of this vulnerable part of 

 the line of siege. When all is secured, the boat proceeds 

 inwards as far as possible, and by firing and hallooing we 

 endeavour to induce the seals that may be in the cave to 

 venture out. In one instance, I remember seeing a female 

 taken, in attempting from the outside to get to her young. 

 Monogamous or not, the males are the first to escape. Now 

 is the period of excitement to the hunter. None of the old 

 ones may be within, and he looks anxiously towards the 

 cavern, straining to penetrate even its murky recesses. No- 

 thing is to be heard but the gurgling of the ripple on its 

 sides, or the plaintive tones of the rock babes, expressive of 

 their impatience for the feast of " Ubera distenta lade,*" 

 which, by them, alas ! are never more to be drained. By- 

 and-by he fancies he perceives an object in the water, and 

 in a moment after he sees the seal darting with the velocity 

 of an arrow under the boat, and presently he hears the wel- 

 come sound — " Fast," from the men holding the ends of 

 the net. At the first onset they are obliged to give line; 



