118 
A VOYAGE TO SPITZBERGEN. 
return of forty seals, about a third of the number we 
might have fairly reckoned upon had the shooting been 
good; to us, however, the bag seemed a heavy one, 
everything considered. 
Our zeal in the pursuit of these animals having 
in no wise abated, we vary the performance by 
steering the schooner along the ice edge, the 
sportsman with his gun keeping a sharp look¬ 
out for game, particular attention being bestowed 
on each long-point end, as the promontories of the 
streams of ice are called, for at these points the 
hunted seals are always likely to make a short stand on 
their ever onward course towards the north and towards, 
the depths of the pack-ice, where they would hope to- 
obtain some respite from their pursuers. Where 
that northern point may be towards which the west- 
ice or saddle-back seals (Phoca Grccnlandica) are 
making, has hitherto been a puzzle to the seal fisher¬ 
men ; that they rest in some remote northern latitude 
there can be little doubt, as they are found in the 
early season far south on the breeding grounds, where 
very young seals are found on the first coming of the 
fishermen, and at that season the gravid seals and 
their young of the year fall an easy prey to the seal- 
fishers whenever they are fortunate enough to find, 
their way to their breeding haunts. But as the season 
