142 - SL EAA E38 3% Crass I, 
fhore; and bring forth in thofe vaft caverns that 
are frequent on our coafts; they commonly bring 
two at a time, which in their infant ftate are 5 
~ covered with a whitifh down, or woolly fubftance. — 
The feal-hunters in Cathne/s have affured me that — 
their growth is fo fudden, that in nine tides from 
- their birth (fifty-four hours) they will become 
as active as their parents. ; 

Ee 
On the coaft of that county are immenfe caverns — 
opening into the fea, and running fome: hundreds 
of yards beneath the land. Thefe are the refort of 
feals in the breeding time, where they continue 
till their young are old enough to go to fea, which 
is in about fix or feven weeks. The firft of thefe 
caves is near the Ord, the laft near Thrumfter: 
their entrance fo narrow, as only to admit a boat ; 
their infide very fpatious and lofty. In the month 
of Ogober, or the beginning of November, the feal- 
hunters enter the mouths of the caverns about mid- 
night, and rowing up as far as they can, they land : 
each of them being provided with a bludgeon, 
and properly ftationed, light their torches, and 
make a ereat noife, which brings down the feals 
from the farther end in a confufed body with fear- . 
full fhrieks and cries: at firft the men are obliged 
to give way for fear of being over-born; but when 
the firft crowd is paft, they kill as many as ftraggle 
behind, chiefly the young, by ftriking them on the 
nofe; a very flight blow on that part difpatches 
them. When the work is over, they drag the feals 
ta 
