SHAL-HUNTING. 815 
ed stationary, watching our motions with dubious eyes. 
When within fifty yards, the men ceased pulling, and per- 
mitted the boat to forge ahead with her own way. Pull- 
ing the tiller-lines so as to alter the course, I got a clean 
shot, and turned the ungainly, awkward brute over; but 
his struggles carried him down the incline till he fell in the 
water, when he sunk immediately. After much difficulty 
we managed to get him out, and on examination found the 
ball had pierced the skull a little above the right eye. His 
weight must have been upward of three hundred pounds, 
and the quantity of grease that came from the carcass as 
we divested him of his pelt was surprising. The hide of 
these animals makes most excellent shoes when properly 
tanned ; and I have been told that nothing in the shape of 
leather is so capable of turning water. One shot was suffi- 
cient to expel the seals from their haunt, so we returned 
shoreward. However, just as we were about to land, a 
youngster popped up his head, which I let drive at, but 
without precision. 
The flies to-day continued very annoying, and the irrita- 
tion caused by their bites itched so severely that it affected 
the’majority of our tempers; the only respite that could be 
obtained was when out on the water, where the draught of 
air had full scope. Oh that some one versed in the lik- 
ings and dislikes of these insidious foes would find a meth- 
od that would protect the angler from these pests when he 
is enjoying a trip that has no other drawbacks! To de- 
scribe my sufferings would be impossible; suffice it to say 
that my actions were sufficient to cause a physician to im- 
agine me fit for incarceration in a lunatic asylum. Even 
now IJ can scarcely revert to the subject without feeling in- 
clined to scratch myself. 
Revenons.a@ nos moutons. With salmon-fishing the im- 
aginary moment of victory is frequently. the precursor of 
) 
