THE ORDINARY SEALS— ELEPHANT. 



281 



The Hunting of The Elephant Seal is pursued by 

 the Elephant Man wherever it is found. For- 

 Seala. merly these Seals were secure from 



all enemies on their deserted islands; but since the 

 European sealers have gone out to seek them, or 

 from about the beginning of this century, their num- 

 bers have rapidly decreased. The sealers cause 

 merciless havoc among the defenseless creatures. 



Scammon says, that the coast of California scarcely 

 furnished any Elephant Seals to the hunters even 

 'twenty years ago, and this region therefore is no 

 longer regarded as a hunting ground. In order to 

 count on sure results it is necessary to go to the 

 desert islands on the southern boundary of the Seals' 

 range and remain there for months or years. These 

 islands are uninhabited by human beings, and Ker- 



with these, and also with good guns, the hunters try 

 to get between the herd on the land and the water. 

 Then they make the greatest possible noise, by 

 shouting, shooting, or in any other way, and slowly 

 advance on the herd, swinging the guns, clubs and 

 spears; and frightened by the unusual din; the herd, 

 as a rule, retreats. If, as not infrequently happens, 

 a male tries to resist and break through the line, 

 a bullet through the brain ends his life, or a spear 

 thrust into his mouth arrests him and forces him 

 down on his hinder quarters. Two men armed with 

 heavy oaken clubs hurry to the spot and stun or kill 

 him by repeated blows on the head. The slaughter 

 of their companions causes such a terror among the 

 animals that they lose all self-possession and climb, 

 roll and fall over each other, if they do not see any 



THE ELEPHANT SEAL This animal, because of its great size and its truncated nose, has been aptly named after the Elephant. The 



picture well brings out the characteristics of this clumsy animal and the trunk -like nose of the male. The female, in the background, has no unusual 

 development of the nose, for the probocis-like appearance is a purely masculine adornment in the species. {Macrorhtnus leomnus.) 



guelen is held to be the most important of all for 

 Seal killing, but the shores are full of broken rocks, 

 partly concealed under the water, which render land- 

 ing difficult and for long distances do not allow even 

 the smallest vessel to cast anchor among them with 

 security. The sealers landing in a boat, even during 

 the calmest weather, are compelled to jump into the 

 water and hold the boat lest it be dashed against the 

 rocks. An angry surf roars around those icy, rocky 

 coasts and inundates them to a considerable depth 

 at every breeze. It was not without reason that 

 Cook called it Kerguelen Land, or Desolation Island. 

 The hunt of the Elephant Seals is pursued with 

 the help of heavy cudgels and spears about fifteen 

 feet long, provided with strong, sharp tips. Armed 



other means of escape. Immediately after the kill- 

 ing, the process of cutting off the blubber begins. 

 The various pieces of blubber are tied together, 

 fastened to ropes and dragged to the ship, where 

 they are further divided and rendered in special 

 kettles, the oil which is extracted from them bein,g 

 valued more highly than that of Whales for lubricate 

 ing purposes. The flesh of the animal is black, oily 

 and nearly uneatable, and is therefore of little value, 

 but the heart is a favorite dish with the sailors, and 

 the liver is considered a dainty by these not very 

 fastidious people, though it is said that it causes a 

 drowsiness that lasts several hours and can not be 

 overcome. The tongue, salted, is said to be really 

 very savory. The short-haired, stiff skin is mam;- 



