The True Seals 289
Old males, the chief object of the chase, being generally in poorer condition than
the females, go down at once when killed, unless they are shot right through the
brain and are lying along the surface of the water in the basking position at the
moment of death. Unless too you have very skilful boatmen, such as the
Shetlanders or the Achill men, who are lying by close at hand ready to dash out
at once and secure the Seal, it is hopeless to shoot them. The only way to
secure a specimen is to have patience and wait for the one or two fortunate days
when the sun shines and the sea is more or less quiet, and get off to the Seal
rock on the chance of surprising the big fellows when they take their mid-day
siesta at low tide. Another fair way of securing a specimen is to become
acquainted with certain places on the coast where the old Grey Seals come in to
fish at high water and where it is shallow on a lee shore. Then if one is killed
he may be taken up by means of the water glass and the pole with cod-hooks, or
he may be recovered at low tide. Such places are, however, only few and far
between, but it is worth waiting many days and even weeks for the sportsman to
secure such a grand beast as the Great S ea l; it will test all his patience, all his
accurate shooting, and all his skill to secure a couple of good specimens in
a satisfactory manner.
I have had fearful disappointments, bad luck, and some measure of success
with these animals, and have in the end been obliged to shoot several examples
in order that I might obtain a complete knowledge of the pelages. Certainly
little could be learnt from such specimens as exist in European museums; pictures
and correct descriptions of the coat at different ages did not exist. This must
be my excuse for many hunts after the Grey Seal. The following incidents from
my diary may not be out of place.
The first day I ever saw a number of big Grey Seals together was a notable
one, and taking into consideration the difficulties of the stalk and its subsequent
incidents it was the most exciting chase I have ever undertaken.
Sir Arthur Orde, who owns Haskeir, having kindly given me permission to
go there and obtain a Seal or two, I took the farmhouse and shootings of
Balranald on the mainland of West North Uist for the month of August 1898,
and there awaited with patience the arrival of a sunny and still day, on which it
would be possible to land on the lonely rock. This occurred only after a wait of
many days, and my brother-in-law, Captain Skipwith, and I set off from Hogarey
village on a lovely brilliant morning with the sea like oil and the sky cobalt.
VOL. 1. p p