HUNTING OF SEALS. 39 



for the seal, when he first strikes, finding an impediment, 

 makes a turn, and if the net be then held too tense, he fails 

 to entangle his hind-paws in the meshes, and thus often 

 slips out. Some of them are wary, and do not immediately 

 fasten, but swim cautiously along the lower edge of the net, 

 surveying with all the coolness of a Wellington reconnois- 

 sance the state of the enemy's lines, and gliding through 

 where they find a point unguarded. When fairly envelop- 

 ed in the net or masked, as it is called, the capture is con- 

 sidered secure. The power of the animal is constrained, 

 and even were it not, he has to lift a mass of wet net, with 

 heavy weights attached, to the surface, every time he at- 

 tempts to respire : only the largest and most powerful can 

 accomplish this, but when he does, or when the water is so 

 shallow as to render it easy, he is shot. Generally he can- 

 not rise, and all that remains to be done is to wait patientiy 

 for his death by drowning. From the boat he may be seen 

 making vain efforts to tear the net with his teeth — rolling 

 on the bottom — now and then desperately struggling to 

 disengage himself, and constantly looking up with a most 

 striking expression of defiance and upbraiding at the boat, 

 which he knows contains the agents of his sufferings. In 

 about a quarter of an hour he begins to open the mouth — 

 bubbles of air ascend to the surface, and death ensues. 



There is something peculiarly cruel and cold-blooded 

 in this mode of hunting seals : — it is taking advantage of 

 their most interesting occupation, rearing their young, and 

 the period that elapses between the moment of their enter- 

 ing the net and the last " bubbling groan," is employed in 

 witnessing the drowning struggles of a noble animal. Few 

 sportsmen, imbued with right feelings, can have a wish to 

 repeat this, and the net is now nearly disused, except by 

 those who may be actuated by mercenary motives. In this 



