1230 The Harp Seal a Permanent Resident, etc. [December, 
and to the leeward of our boat, and so long as we did not move 
they did not pay the slightest attention to our proximity. On 
the slightest movement, however, they would disappear, but if 
not too shy, or previously shot at, would come up again a little 
farther off. When shy they do not reappear, except at a long 
distance, and frequently remain under water from fifteen to twenty 
minutes. When wounded with a rifle-ball or large buck-shot, un- 
less nearly dead, they will go a great distance; but if struck by 
small shot, such as number A, they soon come to the surface. 
The only way in which I can account for this is, that the blood 
does not flow freely from the small shot-holes in the thick skin 
of the throat, but forming a clot on the inside, soon accumulates 
and chokes them ; while with a ball or large buck-shot the wound 
is large and the blood escapes easily, thereby enabling them to 
breathe freely. 
“ Great herds of harps sometimes remain in this vicinity [God- 
bout] from March till June or even July, moving both up and 
down the river. They often work in towards the shore in the 
morning to feed on the shoals of herring and capelin, and go out 
again about seven or eight o'clock. When not pursued or dis- 
turbed by hunters this will be repeated day after day. During 
the months of July, August, September, October and November, 
they are usually not numerous, though, as before stated, a few 
are to be seen all the year round. 
“ I have been told by professional seal hunters that the females 
have young only every second year. I am inclined to doubt this 
statement, as it is only founded on the fact that some adult 
females are shot during the winter without young. I have often 
shot them myself, but do not consider it conclusive proof of this 
theory, as the same thing is observed amongst all mammals, 
though perhaps not quite to the same extent. . 
From a careful observation extending over several year$, I e 
found that the proportion of males to females is about equat, 
that is, judging from the number killed annually at Point i 
Monts (about 250 on an average) where they are shot in ie 
water. Of course when killed on the ice by the sealers in a f 
ruary and March the females predominate. This species and 
common seal have only two teatsand not four, as erroneously 
supposed by some.” 
At my request Mr. Comeau very kindly took the tou 
SE ote | OF er 
ble to | 
