Seal

215 Pages·2015·3.502 MB·English

by  Victoria Dickenson

Seal
Animal
Series editor: Jonathan Burt
Already published
Albatross Graham Barwell · Ant Charlotte Sleigh · ApeJohn Sorenson · Badger Daniel Heath Justice
Bear Robert E. Bieder · Bee Claire Preston · Beetle Adam Dodd · Beaver Rachel Poliquin · Bison
Desmond Morris · Camel Robert Irwin · Cat Katharine M. Rogers · Chicken Annie Potts · Cockroach
Marion Copeland · CowHannah Velten · Crocodile Dan Wylie · Crow Boria Sax · Deer John Fletcher
Dog Susan McHugh · Dolphin Alan Rauch · Donkey Jill Bough · Duck Victoria de Rijke · Eagle Janine
Rogers · Eel Richard Schweid · Elephant Dan Wylie · Falcon Helen Macdonald · Flamingo Caitlin R.
Kight · Fly Steven Connor · Fox Martin Wallen · Frog Charlotte Sleigh · GiraffeEdgar Williams
Goat Joy Hinson · GorillaTed Gott and Kathryn Weir · Guinea Pig Dorothy Yamamoto
HareSimon Carnell · Hedgehog Hugh Warwick · HorseElaine Walker · HyenaMikita Brottman
KangarooJohn Simons · Leech RobertG. W. Kirk and Neil Pemberton · Leopard Desmond Morris
LionDeirdre Jackson · Lobster Richard J. King · MonkeyDesmond Morris · MooseKevin Jackson
Mosquito Richard Jones · Mouse Georgie Carroll · Octopus Richard Schweid · Ostrich Edgar Williams
Otter Daniel Allen · OwlDesmond Morris · Oyster Rebecca Stott · Parrot Paul Carter
Peacock Christine E. Jackson · PenguinStephen Martin · PigBrett Mizelle · PigeonBarbara Allen
Rabbit Victoria Dickenson · Rat Jonathan Burt · RhinocerosKelly Enright · Salmon Peter Coates
Seal Victoria Dickenson · Shark Dean Crawford · Skunk Alyce Miller · SnailPeter Williams
Snake Drake Stutesman · Sparrow Kim Todd · SpiderKatarzyna and Sergiusz Michalski
Swallow Angela Turner ·SwanPeter Young · Tiger Susie Green · Tortoise Peter Young
Trout James Owen · Vulture Thom van Dooren · Walrus John Miller and Louise Miller
Whale Joe Roman · WolfGarry Marvin
Seal
Victoria Dickenson
reaktion books
This book is dedicated to the people of the sea
and those who follow them into their secret ways
Published by
reaktion books ltd
32
Unit , Waterside
44–48
Wharf Road
n1 7ux, uk
London
www.reaktionbooks.co.uk
2016
First published
2016
Copyright © Victoria Dickenson
All rights reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior
permission of the publishers
Printed and bound in China by C&C Offset Printing Co. Ltd
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
isbn 9 781 78023 489 2
Contents
7
Introduction
1 13
True Seals
2 58
Seals and People
3 86
Peoples of the Seal
4 109
Hunting the Seal
5 143
Whitecoat
172
Timeline
175
References
198
Select Bibliography
201
Associations and Websites
204
Acknowledgements
205
Photo Acknowledgements
208
Index

Introduction
The sea had been choppy and the ferry heaved and rolled on the
short run from the small island of St Pierre to the almost-mainland
of Newfoundland, a vast dark rock in the waters. By the time we
began the drive on the single road leading north along the Burin
Peninsula, the sky had cleared, and the hurricane had blown itself
out. We stopped at a long, sandy beach as small waves rolled in
and the sinking sun shot gilt from beneath a dark line of cloud.
We sat on barely dry rock and looked out to sea, and there she was,
a dark head in the glowing water. We watched and she watched,
occasionally slipping under the surface and then re-emerging a
short distance further along the shore. Our mutual regard lasted
until we stood up, and she vanished, one moment there, the next
only the grey sea.
I did not grow up along the coasts of the North Atlantic,
meaning that until we moved to Newfoundland my acquaintance
with seals in their natural habitat was non-existent. Seals were
characters in children’s books, like Sammy the Seal, or perched
on drums in vintage circus posters. This first seal was a revelation.
I knew instantly that it was a seal – a dark head in the water, what
else could it be? But I was unprepared for the long, steady gaze
that watched me as I watched her.
Dark head
I have seen many seals since that first encounter, but always
in the water,
there is the sense that I am as much observed as observing. The a harbour seal.
7
A grey
seal saluting.
seal’s gaze is distinctive – it is not the unfathomable, measuring
glare of the lion or bear, or the furtive glance of the rabbit. Seals
gaze upon humans as neither predator nor prey. We, on the other
hand, have for millennia preyed on seals, and while it is not sur -
pris ing that they keep a weather eye on the two-legged ones on
shore, their steady regard belies fear. The seal’s gaze seems curious,
and, above all, familiar. People who make their living from the
sea and live most closely with the wild seals accuse them not only
of bad behaviour – stealing the catch, ripping nets and destroy-
ing fish traps – but of knowingly taunting them, waving a lazy
flipper as they disappear below the waves. An infuriated sixteenth-
century monk complained that when he chased the seal from his
lines, ‘Cares he not nor listens,/ But begins to grin/ And wink his
eyes’, and worse, slaps the water, dives and releases a noxious,
1
flatulent cloud.
8