Part I: Seals teeth and whales ears - Scott Polar Research Institute ...

The procedure was to approach the pup and lay the Dexion frame down in an
appropriate place. One man grabbed the hind flippers and dragged the pup back
onto the Dexion. The others fell on it - one on the neck, the others on the flippers.
Sacking was put over its head to calm it. A strap was fastened behind the foreflippers
to attach it to the frame - the position of the pup was adjusted if necessary.
Another strap was fastened behind the neck, the end drawn back and fastened to
the belly strap. The rope at the tail end was drawn forward and similarly fastened
to the belly strap. The pup was then carried to the branding iron and laid down
head to wind. A tail tag was attached – smeared with Stockholm tar to prevent
infection, a patch of fur on the back was sheared with clippers and the branding
iron applied. Branding lasted about 20 seconds. One man holds the hind flippers,
one is at the head, one puts a foot on the pup's back and the brander does the
same. The brand shows initially as a shiny, slightly crinkly surface and is brushed
with hot, therefore thin, Stockholm tar to minimize infection.
On 26 October, tagging in the morning, we used up all our supply of
appropriate wire. We were all rather tired. In the afternoon we tried out a thinner
wire, but were not very happy with it - even though softening it by heating was a
great improvement - because the wire was still too thin. Also we did not feel too
happy about our necessarily rough treatment of the seals and had a long talk about
it in the evening. To bed at 10 o’clock very tired.
Next day my turn came round again as cook. I woke early to the sound of a
diesel engine and saw a small Norwegian fishing vessel in the bay (SF738) that
came slowly across and hove-to off the West side of Sceapull. Jim was worried
about his photographic gear at the fank and so went across immediately after
breakfast. The Norwegians didn't land though. We decided to spend the day
observing and photographing seals. I exposed several films although the light
wasn't good. I went up the West side of Fianuis to North Point and used my new
telephoto lens for colour portraits and for shots of seals in the water and basking
on the rocks. I was very pleased with it, but would have to await results to assess
its performance. After lunch I returned and took black-and-white photos. The light
was bad and I stopped about 3.30 pm. I spent some time at the northern end
watching seals in the water - virgin cows and some bulls. There was some play and
one seal came up with a fish in its mouth. Curry and rice for dinner, which was
well received.
There was rain in the night and Morton slept in, so we had breakfast later than
usual. It was a census day. Jim and I did Fianuis South and North. The day
brightened and I took some photos before lunch and again after. Then we pressed
on with the census. I saw and photographed a jet-black female moulter, a beautiful
animal. We counted 1691 pups in all. The evening was lovely with the sun a
golden ball and a fine sunset, South of Sula Sgeir on the horizon. We walked home
in the moonlight - a half moon shining in the sea.
So the days went by. When westerly or northerly gales blew the waves surged
through the steep gullies on the west side of Fiannuis to a height of fifty feet or so
and huge seas broke over the cliffs drenching the island in spray.
29 October was a good day when I collected skulls from three skeletons and
three dead and decomposing seals; also four skins from dead moulters for
processing. In the afternoon we went up to the North end to a seal trapped in a
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