[ 25 ° ] 
The echouries are formed principally by nature, be'* 
ing a gradual dope of foft rock, with which the Magda- 
len illands abound, about 8 o or i o o yards wide at the 
water hde, and fpreading fo as to contain, near the fum- 
rnit, a very conliderable number. Here they are fuffered 
to come on fliore and amufe themfelves for a confidera- 
ble time, till they acquire a boldnefs, being at their firft 
landing fo exceedingly timid as to make it impolTible for 
any perfon to approach them. In a fe'W Vv'eeks they af- 
femble in great numbers ; formerly, when undiilurbed 
' by the Americans, to the amount of feven or eight thou- 
fand; and the form of the echourie not allowing them 
to remain contiguous to the water, the foremoft ones are 
infenlibly puflied above the floj^e. When they are ar- 
rived to a convenient diftance the fiflrermen, having pro- 
vided the neceffary apparatus, take the advantage of a. 
fea wind, or a breeze blowing rather obliquely on the 
lliore, to prevent the fmelling of thefe animals (who 
have that fenfe in great perfe6tion, contributmg to their 
fafety), and with the alliflance of very good dogs, endea- 
vour in the night time to feparate thole that are the far- 
theft advanced from thofe next the water, driving them 
different ways. This they call making a cut,, and is ge- 
nerally looked upon to be a moft dangerous procefs, it 
being impollible to drive them in any particular direc- 
tion, and difficult to avoid them; but as they are ad- 
vanced above the dope of the echourie, the darknefs of 
the night deprives them of every diredion to the water,, 
fo that they ftray about and are killed at leifure,. thofe 
2 that 
