Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 5 (1901).djvu/106

82 proximity to them. The killing commenced at once, and vast numbers were "panned," many of which, as usual, were never seen again, at least by those who killed them. Bad weather and fogs came on, the vessels being separated from their panned Seals; and there were nasty rumours of misappropriation by certain of the crews, which led to subsequent unpleasant litigation—an event, be it said, happily of rare occurrence.

The young Seals were in excellent condition, and were rapidly being got on board, but unfortunately a change took place before the work was completed, and stormy weather, accompanied by dense fogs, first delayed the vessels, and then rendered their passage home in their heavily laden condition very perilous. Notwithstanding this, however, four of them were in port with large cargoes by the 27th, and others followed in quick succession. The 'Diana,' the last of the St. John's steamers to arrive, was the only one which missed the main body of the young Seals off the east coast, but she succeeded in picking up over 2000 young Harps, and then went to the neighbourhood of Groais Island, some thirty miles east of which she killed about 8500 old and Bedlamer Seals, and over 500 old and young Hoods. The old Seals were all "batted," and during their collection the 'Diana' drifted south with the floe to the neighbourhood of Funk Island.

This was the only considerable number of over-year Seals killed by any of the vessels, with the exception of the 'Vanguard,' which had 2700, and the 'Nimrod' 5200, the latter having been unsuccessful at the Gulf fishery.

Of the four vessels which went to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the 'Nimrod,' as just mentioned, met with no success in that locality, but, going north through the Strait of Belle Isle, made up her catch of 5546 (mostly old Harps and Bedlamers) between Groais Island and Funk Island. The 'Harlaw' and the 'Hope' got well among the western Harps, and secured good catches of young Seals; but the 'Kite' was very unfortunate. Being unable to reach the western Harps, Capt. Young steered northeast in search of the Hooded Seals, with little better success, there being no ice suitable for them to whelp on; the result was that they took to the standing ice between the Island of Anticosti and the shore, and, drift ice coming in, rendered it im-