164 



GRINNELL 



When the seal is about due at the surface the paddlers 

 stop and look for him, the hunter holding his gun in readi- 

 ness to shoot. If the seal appears within range the shot is 

 fired, and if the animal is wounded both men paddle to him 

 as fast as possible, and the hunter tries to spear him, either 

 by throwing or thrusting with the spear. A long, light 

 line is attached to the shaft of the spear near its head, and 

 the end of the line is retained in the boat. The spear 

 point, being barbed on one side, seldom or never pulls out, 

 and the seal is dragged to the side of the canoe, struck on 

 the head with a club, and taken on board. If the first shot 

 should have merely wounded the seal, and it is impossible 

 to spear him, he is pursued and shot again whenever he 



HUNYA SEALER'S CAMP, GLACIER BAY. 



comes to the surface. Few seals are lost unless they can 

 get among the thick ice where the canoe moves with diffi- 

 culty, and the floating blocks interrupt the view. When 

 a seal is taken into the boat an equivalent weight of stones 

 is thrown overboard to lighten the canoe. Often before 

 noon the canoe has all the seals that it can carry, and re- 

 turns to the camp. 



