PURSUITS OF THE INHABITANTS. 223

From three to four hundred vessels, of from 60

‘ to 120 tons each, with crews of from sixteen to thirty men, have of late years been fitted out and sent from the different parts of Newfoundland to the seal fish- ery. They are always prepared for sea with neces- sary stores and fire-arms, poles to defend them from the ice, &c., before the Feast of St Patrick. Imme- diately after, the crews at the harbours, then fro- zen over, collect together, with all assistance from the shoremen, and, dividing themselves into two rows on the ice, and provided with hatchets, large saws, and strong poles, fiX on two lines far enough separate to allow their largest schooners to pass. Each party cuts along the line, and divides the solid mass between them into squares, which are shoved with the poles under the firm ice ; conti- nuing this laborious operation until a channel is opened to the sea. The vessels then proceed to the field ice, pushing their way through the openings, or working to windward of it, until they meet with the herds of seals that accompany the ice. Where these occur, the part on which they are, is called seal mea- dows. These animals are surprised by the seal hunt- ers while they are sleeping on the ice, and attacked with firelocks, or with strong bludgeons, which are considered preferable. But the hunters have fre- quently to shoot the large ones, which will turn upon the men, and make resistance. The Mpiteous moan and f cry of the young ones during the slaughter, requile 3,? more than common nerves to disregard The hooded?»