travels in North America. 79 



4ers of Nenv France had taken proper Meafures to Tecure th^ 

 FofTeflion of it to ourfelves.-— I begin with the Fifhery for Seals^ 

 Sea Cows, and Porpoifes, which may be carried on every where 

 in the Gulph of St, Laurence, and a great Way up the River. 



The Sea Wolf, or the Seal^ takes its Name from its Cry, which: 

 is a Sort of howling ; for in its Shape it refembles not the Wolf^> 

 nor any Land Animal that we know. Lefcarbct afTerts, that he 

 has heard fome cry like Screech-Ov/ls ; but thefe might be only 

 young ones, whofe Cry was not quite formed. They make no 

 Hefitation here. Madam, to place it in the P^ank of Fifhes ? 

 though it is not mute, though it is brought forth on the Land^ 

 and lives as much on it as in the Water, and is covered with 

 Hair : In a Word, though it wants nothing to make it to be 

 confidered as an amphibious Creature. But we are in a new 

 World, and it muft not be required of us always to fpeak the 

 Language of the Old ; and Cuflom, againll which there is no 

 reafoning, is here in PofTelTion of all its Rights. So that thé 

 War they make with the Seals, though it is often on Land^ 

 and with the Gun, ia called a Fifhery ; and that which they 

 make with the Beavers in the Water, and with Nets, is called à 

 G h ace. 



The Head of a Seal is fomething like a BuIUDog's : He has 

 r ' ' ^^^^^ Legs, very fhort, efpecially thofe be- 



^^''"^^ every other Refpec^ it is 2.Yi^^. 

 the uea . drags itfelf rather than walks upon its 



Feet. Its Legs before have Nails, thofe behind are like 

 Fins : His Skin is hard, and covered with Ihort Hair of divers 

 Colours. There are fome Seals all white, and they are all fo at 

 £rfl ; but fome, as they grow up, become black, others tawny 

 Many are of all thefe Coloi^rs mixed together. 



The Fifhermen diftinguifh feveral Species of Seals : Th-c 



Of he Ce eral ^^^S^^ weigh up to two thoufand Pounds, 

 o ■ t Jf"^^^^ and they fay their Nofe is more pointed thai^ 

 oj>eciejo/ deals. the others. There are fome that only fnfk 

 about in the Watér : Our Sailors call them Braffeurs, (Breuuers^) 

 They have given thé Name of Nau to another Sort ; for which Î 

 can give no Reafon, nor know the Meaning of the Word. Ano- 

 ther Sort they (!all Grajfes Tetes, (Great Headù) There are fome 

 fmall ones that are very lively and ikilful in cutting the Nets 

 they are taken in : hey are of a Tyger Colour ; they are full 

 of Play and Spirit, and as pretty as Creatures of this Shape can' 

 be. The Savages learn thefe to follow them like little Dogs, 

 and eat them notwithftanding. 



M. Denys fpeaks of two Sorts of Seals that are found upon the 

 Coalls of Acadia. One Sort (fays^ he) are fo big-, that their 

 t^oung are larger than our krgell Porkers. lie adds, that fooa^ 



after 



