Hunting Seals.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 20, 30 March 1870, Page 7

Hunting Seals.

Tho steamer WalLtbi, not being able to clear out for Wangauui on Sunday, and having steam up, was sent on a mission of mercy. Tiio in ;rey uonsisted in affording an opportunity to tho worshippers of Bacchus or of Morpheus to quit their haunts or thair beds, and to breathe at sea a better physical or nigral atmosphere than is usually to be found at the street corners or in the bar parlour* of Westporfc. She was despatched on an excursion to the Steeples, at the rate of live shillings per human head. The quality of mercy was somewhat strained. It was restricted to mankind. The seals by which tho Steeples are extensively inhabited wore not supposed to p irticipato in its benefits. A.t any rato, the bellman said one of tho objects of the mission was to "go a seal-huutin'", Not many people went on board, less from compunction's than from laziness, or' from ignorance of tha expedition. Perhaps the party was just', numerous enough to pay for coals. Tho day was a delightful and the sail was a pleasant one. Oa reaching tho rocks two boats put off from the steamer, but only one attempted or effected a landing, the surf being considerable, smooth as the water was otherwise. The rocks were crowded with seals, apparently enjoying their "Sunday out," and the amateur sealers who landed were not long in possessing themselves of the dead bodies of seven—six young one?, and one, five feet in aged. The process of reducing the creatures to this condition consisted in striking them on the head with a stick, and with a special preference for the tip of the nose. Numbers of others were lugubrious spectators of the slaughter, or, considering discretion to be the better part of valor, even in seals, sought the shelter of the sea. One indefatigable sportsman was seen to follow their example in this respect, and there was a suspicion that, because he spoke with a foreign accent, II ms Breitinanu'a lady friend, mistaking him for Hans, Had pooled his coat-tails down, Ant drawn liiin oonler der \vl33er Do maiden mit nodinga on. But the sportsman was not so iingallant as to leave a stout lady friend even for " meerroaids mit no lings on," and, having succeeded ,- n saving himself, he was brought on board a wetter and a wiser nun. The steamer returned at midnight, with no more remarkable incidents to relate, and with all her passengers—some highly satisfied, and others " sicklied o'er by the pale cast of thought,"— Westport Times.