82 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



proximity to them. The killing commenced at once, and vast 

 numbers were *' panned," many of which, as usual, were never 

 seen again, at least by those who killed them. Bad weather and 

 fogs came on, the vessels being separated from their panned Seals ; 

 and there were nasty rumours of misappropriation by certain of 

 the crews, which led to subsequent unpleasant litigation — an 

 event, be it said, happily of rare occurrence. 



The young Seals were in excellent condition, and were rapidly 

 being got on board, but unfortunately a change took place before 

 the work was completed, and stormy weather, accompanied by 

 dense fogs, first delayed the vessels, and then rendered their 

 passage home in their heavily laden condition very perilous. 

 Notwithstanding this, however, four of them were in port with 

 large cargoes by the 27th, and others followed in quick succes- 

 sion. The ' Diana,' the last of the St. John's steamers to arrive, 

 was the only one which missed the main body of the young Seals 

 off the east coast, but she succeeded in picking up over 2000 

 young Harps, and then went to the neighbourhood of Groais 

 Island, some thirty miles east of which she killed about 8500 

 old and Bedlamer Seals, and over 500 old and young Hoods. 

 The old Seals were all "batted," and during their collection 

 the 'Diana' drifted south with the floe to the neighbourhood of 

 Funk Island. 



This was the only considerable number of over-year Seals 

 killed by any of the vessels, with the exception of the ' Vanguard,' 

 which had 2700, and the ' Nimrod ' 5200, the latter having been 

 unsuccessful at the Gulf fishery. 



Of the four vessels which went to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, 

 the 'Nimrod,' as just mentioned, met with no success in that 

 locality, but, going north through the Strait of Belle Isle, made 

 up her catch of 5546 (mostly old Harps and Bedlamers) between 

 Groais Island and Funk Island. The ' Harlaw ' and the * Hope ' 

 got well among the western Harps, and secured good catches of 

 young Seals ; but the ' Kite ' was very unfortunate. Being 

 unable to reach the western Harps, Capt. Young steered north- 

 east in search of the Hooded Seals, with little better success, 

 there being no ice suitable for them to whelp on ; the result was 

 that they took to the standing ice between the Island of Anti- 

 costi and the shore, and, drift ice coming in, rendered it im* 



