Show SEALING IN THE ANTARCTIC hasten and 81 sailor i 0 a up to the neck keck in blood and blubber lubber ll it was with w ith the produce of seals that we we were re destined to fill our ship and till february 17 we were literally up to the neck in blood says a writer in the popular science monthly all the salli sails are stowed the captain sits iu in the crows nest from early morning till late in the evening the two engineers gi relieving one another take charge of the engines the cook or the steward sieward is on the lookout on the deck or on the bridge and the doctor takes the helm unless he be can manage to get away in the boats in which case some other noncombatant has to take his place all the rest are away after plunder now a full boat is making its way to the ship we steam toward her As we near the engines are stopped and she glides alongside the cook or the steward rushes rashes from the lookout the doctor from the wheel one working the steam winch and the other un switching the skins while the boats crew swallow a hasty meal the boat being unloaded they are off again tor for another fill the greatest rivalry exists between the boats crews each endeavoring deavo ring to get the greatest load for the day another boat is seen been approaching and away we go again dodging this piece of ice charging that piece with our sturdy bows boring away where the ice lies closely packed rounding ronn ding this berg and on to the next we reach the boat which is down to the gunwale in the water with its crew cautious plying their oars as they lie crouched upon their bloody load so it goes on from day to day ilay hay is made while the sun shines and the pile of skins and blubber rises high upon the ships deck then comes a gale of wind accompanied by fog sleet and snow and we lay jay to under the lee of a stream of ice or a berg the deck becomes busy with life the blubber is made off and put into the tanks and the skins are salted when the gale i is over at the end of two or three days the next nest few days of calm xv weather eather idree are again taken advantage of in the boats thus the period of gales and calms which alternate in this part of the world come in quite conveniently for sealing the produce obtained in the calm caba weather being made off during the gales we never elpe 9 much swell being sheltered by the land our work lying only a little east of erebus and terror gulf |