E, BROWN ON THE SEALS OF GREENLAND. o3 



opposite direction to that of Spitzbergen, and cannot be seen in 

 the northern parts of Davis's Strait or Baffin's Bay ; it is possible 

 therefore, he thinks, that the Seals of Baffin's Bay go in the spring 

 down the west side of Davis's Strait to Xewfoundhmd and Labra- 

 dor, and snpply the bulk of those killed there at that season, that 

 in the winter they cross Davis's Strait and beget their young in 

 that region, and after this cross again to the southern portion of 

 Greenland. One would think that if the Seals came from Spitz- 

 bergen there would at this setison be great numbers met on the 

 passage round Cape Farewell. At other seasons of the year it is 

 certiiinly the abundance or otherwise of their food which deter- 

 mines which way the Seal will take. In June the Seals go to feed 

 on Fish up the Qords ; but what way they go in July, and where 

 they may be in August, is still a matter of doubt. It is often 

 argued in Greenland that in the " old times " Seals were more 

 numerous than now, and that the great slaughter by the European 

 sealers in Spitzbergen and Newfoundland has lessened their num- 

 bers on the shores of Greenland. The worthy Director of Green- 

 land Commerce therefore rejoices that the recent ftiilures of the 

 Seal-hunting in the former localities will have a tendency to again 

 increase their numbers in Davis's Strait and Baffin's Bay, and 

 thereby bring an increase of prosperity to his hyperborean 

 subjects. 



Economic Value and Hunting. — To the Greenlander this Seal is 

 of vast importance for its oil, flesh, and hide. One full-grown 

 animal will weigh on an average about 230 lbs., of which the skin 

 and blubber weigh 100 lbs., and the meat 93 lbs., the remainder 

 being the head, blood, and entrails. The edible parts may there- 

 fore be said to reach the amount of 100 lbs. ; but this weight also 

 includes the bones. The blubber of one at the latter part of the 

 year would probably fill about one-third of a cask, but would not 

 yield over a fourth part of that quantity when the animals return 

 in the spring after procreating. The yearly catch in the Danish 

 settlements is estimated at 36,000. ( Vide Kink, /. c). 



(4.) Phoca b.^rbata, O. Fab. 



Callocephalus barbatus, F. Guv. 

 Phoca Icporina, Lepech. ? 

 Callocephalus leporinus, F. Cuv. 

 Popular names. — Hafert skdl (Swedish)* ; Ajne (Lapp) ; Ursuk 

 (so written by Fab., but in North Greenland always pronounced 

 oo-sook)\ (Greenland). It is also called Takamugak, and the 

 young Terkigluk ; but I never heard these terms applied, so they 

 must be rarely used. 



What the " great Seals " of Pennant and other authors are has 

 yet to be investigated ; they were originally all set down to be 

 this species, but are now generally supposed to belong to the Grey 



* Newton (/. c.) says that this is the Seal known to the Norse hunters about 

 Spitzbergen as the Stor-kobbe (Great Seal), and more frequently as Blaa-kobbe 

 (the Blue Seal). 



+ Oo-sook also means blubber. The name may possibly refer to the size or 

 fatness of the animal, and mean " the big, fat Seal." 



