42 
IN FORBIDDEN SEAS 
of fog, which may settle down at any moment, it is 
safer for the vessel to be at anchor, so that, when 
the boats return, they may know her whereabouts. 
Whilst the boats are away, it is the duty of those 
remaining on the schooner — generally the ship- 
keeper or captain, cook, steward, carpenter, and a 
spare man, on the best-equipped vessels—to look 
after the vessel and attend to the skins already 
secured. In event of a sudden storm, they may 
have to put to sea, or run down and pick up the 
boats if the weather is clear and the wind against 
them. When the boats leave the vessel, it is usual 
to tell the shipkeeper in which direction they pro¬ 
pose to hunt. The boats take up their position in 
line abreast, about 600 to 800 yards apart. The 
hunter stands in the bows of the boat, on the 
look-out. He usually has a pair of good marine 
binoculars, two rifles, and a plentiful supply of 
ammunition. 
In the early days (1872-73) Kentucky muzzle¬ 
loading rifles, specially made for the business, were 
used. They were very heavy, weighing from 12 to 
16 pounds, and having a very small bore. From a 
boat very much better shooting can be made with 
a heavy rifle than with a light one. Its own weight 
keeps it steady, there is little or no recoil, and it has 
not to be gripped and pressed to the shoulder like a 
light weapon. When a hunter gets used to standing 
in his boat, he can keep perfectly steady, and shoot 
as well as on land, no matter how violent the motion 
of the boat. His ankles, knees, and hips, act like 
gimbals, and take up all the motion of the boat, and 
his rifle, when pointed at an object, can be kept on it 
with ease. The muzzle-loaders were soon discarded, 
