sealing vbl n also swaling, swiling, swoiling [phonetics unavailable]. OED ~ vbl sb2 1 (1848, 1870), DAE (1839-), DC (Nfld: 1777-) for sense 1; for combs. in sense 2: DC ~ dog Nfld (1916); ~ fleet (Nfld: 1906-); ~ grounds (1921-); OED ~ gun (1842 quot), DC swiling gun Nfld (1906); ~ post (Nfld: 1775-); OED ~ vessel (1860 quot); DAE ~ voyage (1807 quot).
1 The taking of seals, esp harp and hooded seals, by net, gun or 'gaff' near the shore, or the hunt for them from a vessel on the ice-floes.
[1777] 1792 CARTWRIGHT ii, 256 It is rather too shoal for sealing, yet I must try it, since there is not better hereabouts. 1839 TUCKER 107 The more common mode of sealing of late years, however, is to fit out vessels, and search for these amphibia in the straits and along the Gulf. [cl894] PANL P4/14, p. 199 Greenspond is a purty place / And so is Pincher's Island; / Ma shall have a new silk dress, / When Da comes home from swoiling. 1897 WILLSON 110 I give my place to another man. I knew after that I was no good for 'swilin' ' any more. 1933 GREENE 166 And everything of all sorts must be made ready for any one of the emergencies that may arise at the Ice—not only for 'swilin' ' in the Patch, or 'swatching' in the lanes of the Floe—but for the off-chance of the ship being nipped, or of some other bad accident or jamming. 1952 SMITH 119 [He] was master of his own ship at eighteen and as daring and successful a sealing skipper as any in this town, where sealing, or 'swoiling,' as oldtimers still call it, made many wealthy and not a few famous. T 398/9-67 He was one man that loved swilin'. 1972 BROWN 1 The father ... now forty-nine, had sworn off seal hunting ('swiling') three years before after a harrowing experience at the ice.
2 Attrib, comb sealing adventure: commercial sealing enterprise; ADVENTURE, VOYAGE.
[1802] 1895 PROWSE 420 The sealing-adventure by large boats, which sail about the middle of March, has not been general longer than nine years.
sealing bat: see BAT.
sealing berth: see BERTH.
sealing capstan: device for hauling seal nets ashore.
[1774] 1792 CARTWRIGHT ii, 32 The carpenter and four hands carried the sealing-capstans to the head of the sound.
sealing captain: see sealing master.
1906 LUMSDEN 106 Each steamer, besides its own navigating captain and crew, carried a sealing captain and from one hundred and fifty to three hundred of a sealing crew. 1912 DUNCAN 71 An' the Giant-Killer scowled like a swilein (sealing) captain on his bridge. 1924 ENGLAND 9 Both were huge-shouldered and hard-fisted sealing cap'ns. 1982 Evening Telegram 27 Jan, p. 1 [He] had alleged that three sealing captains ... violated an old statute prohibiting the killing of seals on Sunday.
sealing craft: (a) implements, gear and other requisites for capturing seals; CRAFT; (b) vessel. [1773] 1792 CARTWRIGHT i, 285 I went down in the boat to Stage Cove, and there had the satisfaction to find almost all the sealing-craft in order, and four nets out. 1907 DUNCAN 323 We were picked up by the steamer Fortune, a sealing-craft commissioned by the government for rescue when surmise of the disaster grew.
sealing crew: (a) organized group of men engaged in taking seals with nets near the shore; (b) group of men aboard a vessel, engaged to hunt seals on the ice-floes; CREW.
[1771] 1792 CARTWRIGHT i, 124 Two of the people belonging to the sealing crew came here this morning, to engage with me for the summer's fishing. 1861 DE BOILIEU 84 A sealing crew consists of not less than six men. [1891] 1978 Haulin' Rope & Gaff 35 Please pay attention for a while / And I will sing to you / A song about the Greenland / And her hardy sealing crew. [See 1906 quot at sealing captain.] 1924 ENGLAND 234 "Success to Every Man": De warriors o' de wooden fleet, / Dey soon will sail away, / In charge of 'ardy swilin' crews, / Wid colours flyin' gay! [1954] 1979 Evening Telegram 14 Mar, p. 8 He says the reason for this is that the sealing crews begin killing seals too early.
sealing dog: (a) experienced seal hunter; (b) gunner's assistant at the seal hunt; DOG1.
1916 DUNCAN 218 It was even held by some old sealing dogs that the floes had gone to the east in a spurt of westerly weather. [DC] C 71-37 First swilin' dog: man who carried the cartridges for the gunner. Second swilin'dog: [man who] carried extra amount of cartridges. Cut tails off the swiles to check the number killed.
sealing flag: see FLAG n.
sealing fleet: collectively, all the vessels prosecuting the seal hunt among the ice-floes.
1873 Maritime Mo ii, 135 At daylight, on the morning of April 30th, 1873, a steamer named the Tigress, one of the Newfoundland sealing fleet, was ploughing her way in pursuit of seals, amid the ice-laden sea. [1896] SWANSBOROUGH 4 "The Seal Fishery": But hope is active, all now chat / Of sealing fleets, and seals, and 'fat.' 1909 Tribune Christmas No 11 At that time our sealing fleet was the proudest feature in the trade of the colony. [1929] 1979 Evening Telegram 10 Mar, p. 19 A message received last night from airman Caldwell at St Anthony reported that he had located the main patch of seals northeast of Fogo. Most of the sealing fleet are in the vicinity and news of a considerable kill is expected tonight. 1981 Evening Telegram 9 Mar, p. 3 Greenpeace protest activity was absent from this year's blessing of the sealing fleet.
sealing gaff: see GAFF n.
sealing ground: ice-floes where harp and hooded seals gather to breed; cp GROUND.
1936 SMITH 101 On the 20th of March we were jammed for a day about ten miles west-north-west of Point Riche, on good sealing ground, where many a load in previous years was killed, but there wasn't a seal to be seen. 1953 JOB 10 Other members of the family also visited the sealing grounds off Newfoundland. 1982 Evening Telegram 24 Mar, p. 1 All the large hunting vessels were gone Tuesday from the sealing grounds known as the Front.
sealing gun: long, muzzle-loading gun formerly used at the seal hunt.
1842 JUKES i, 284 The sealing-gun is an immense affair, as long as a duck-gun, but with a much wider bore... The men put in a great charge of powder and shot—frequently ten fingers' breadth... It was as much as I could do to hold one of these guns straight out. 1866 WILSON 278 About the last of February, hundreds of ice-hunters might be seen ... with their gaffs, and long swaling guns on their backs, in order to join their respective vessels on the first of March. 1886 Colonist Christmas No 9 As the evening advances, the report of a gun is heard,—another answers it—then bang! bang!! bang!!! go the sealing guns from all parts of the village, sounding forth a welcome to the 'Good Old Christmas time.' 1906 LUMSDEN 90 If the Canadians come down here to take our country I'll get down my 'swiling gun,' and we'll go out to meet 'em. 1909 Christmas Annual 12 But the old sealing gun had its day, and held a proud position in the planter's house before the breech-loader and modern rifle supplanted it... It was usually from six to seven feet long, and required 'a man' to hold it out straight when using it. 1973 MOWAT 19 The banging of them swiling guns was something for to hear, and the smell of the black powder sticks in me nostrils yet.
sealing house: dwelling for men engaged in catching seals with nets near the shore.
[1775] 1792 CARTWRIGHT ii, 53-4 We looked into the old sealing-house on Round Island, and observed that it had been much frequented by foxes there being some oil-gullies left there. [1786] ibid iii, 198 Came to anchor in Venison Harbour: where we found a very good sealing-house, which had been built last fall, by a crew belonging to Mr Hyde of Poole; a new adventurer on this coast. 1977 Inuit Land Use 209 John and his wife moved into Abe's sealing house at Rapid Point.
sealing ice: ice-floe frequented by harp and hooded seals.
1916 GRENFELL 168 The wind had pinned the runnin' ice ag'in the standin' edge, and it looked good swilin' ice, too. I thought it was as well to die one way as another, and so here goes—and we started out across the floe.
sealing master: person in charge of a vessel and of men engaged in the hunt for seals.
[1870] 1899 Nfld Law Reports 329 That a seal abandoned at the ice might be taken possession of by the finder, only went to show the illegal and conflicting practice of two or three sealing masters. 1923 CHAFE 28 It is clear that occasions will arise when this may happen, but the sealing master will be in possession of definite information, and at the first slackening can proceed direct to the patch, without any loss of time. 1976 CASHIN 44 Two sealing masters stand out prominently in my mind... The first, and I would say the most colourful of Newfoundland sealing skippers, was the then well-known Captain Arthur Jackman.
sealing net: net, often joined with others to form a 'frame,' set in water near the shore to catch migrating seals; SEAL NET.
1854 [FEILD] 16 ... when men leave their sealing-nets, which require continued watching and attendance.
sealing owner: merchant or entrepreneur engaged in the various activities of the sealing industry; ship-owner.
1923 CHAFE 28 In the latter end of 1920, the Sealing owners made arrangements for the assistance of aeroplanes and airships to be given to the ships in the seal fishery of 1921.
sealing plane: aircraft used to locate seal herds and report position to vessels engaged in the seal hunt; SPOTTER.
[1928] 1964 Evening Telegram 21 June, p. 6 The new sealing plane 'Avro Avian' arrived this morning by S.S. Newfoundland. [1954] 1979 ibid 14 Mar, p. 8 Captain Ken Barbour, official spotter on the sealing plane, says Newfoundland is going to lose her sealing industry.
sealing post: coastal station from which seals are captured by means of nets; POST.
[1775] 1792 CARTWRIGHT ii, 52 Mr Lymburner is a merchant at Quebec, who keeps sealing-posts. 1778 ibid ii, 309 At four this morning I sent Patrick to the sealing-post, to examine the condition of the provisions and craft; and to secure them from taking damage by the thawing weather. 1839 TUCKER 107 A good sealing post is ranked as of the most valuable species of property, and is transmitted from one family to another; and sold, sometimes for a round price.
sealing pound: enclosure formed by placing three seal nets together in the water; Cp POUND.
[1775] 1792 CARTWRIGHT ii, 52 I went round Little Caribou, and afterwards measured the Little Tickle, and marked out a sealing-pound upon the ice; in order to ascertain the dimensions of the nets.
sealing punt: undecked boat used to capture seals with nets close to shore and at the hunt among the ice-floes; PUNT.
1878 TOCQUE 123 Some are employed ... preparing the sealing-punts or skiffs.
sealing racket: see RACKET'.
sealing rope ['si.lin roup]: length of stout line used to haul seal carcasses and 'pelts' over the ice; HAULING-ROPE, TOW v: ~ ROPE.
[1900 OLIVER & BURKE] 45 'Twas a heavy, stout manilla, greasy enough to fry, / And in the centre of that sealing rope was placed a hook-and-eye. 1944 LAWTON & DEVINE 93 Excited crowds,—the women with tea-kettles and bundles of bread, the men with their gaffs and sealing ropes—scaled the jagged cliff sides. T 43-64 You'd walk off from the land, you know, on the ice, an' you'd have your gaff with you and your rope, sealing rope, and you get the chance to kill one, two, or three or four probably.
sealing schooner: see sealing vessel.
1895 PROWSE 450-1 The work required for fitting out the vessels, building punts, repairing and strengthening the sealing schooners, kept masters and crews at work all through the winter.
sealing season: period when harp and hooded seals migrate past Newfoundland and Labrador and are taken by hunters.
[1771] 1792 CARTWRIGHT i, 181 They have now not more than half a load, nor can they spare time to get more, before the sealing season is over.
sealing ship: see sealing vessel.
[1951] 1978 Haulin' Rope & Gaff 85 "Ballad of Capt Bob Bartlett": The sealing ships whose bloody decks betokened paying trips, / As ev'ry Spring they wriggled through the ice-field's crushing grips. 1982 Evening Telegram 24 Mar, p. 1 Sealing ships returned to port Tuesday amid indications the proposed European ban on seal products has already shaken the market.
sealing skiff: large undecked boat used to set and haul seal nets; SKIFF.
[1771] 1792 CARTWRIGHT i, 177 I carried three of the sealing crew to the stage, from whence they went to Seal Island in a sealing skiff. [1786] ibid iii, 173 After breakfast I sent four hands in the sealing-skiff to get the Fox off, which they did, by making the largest raft of wood fast to a rock, and taking her anchor; with which ... they moored her in deep water.
sealing skipper: see sealing master.
1895 PROWSE 452 And the great army of sealing skippers and great planters, where are they? ... the Ashes, Dawes, Delaneys, Blandfords, Kanes, Knees, Jackmans, Bartletts, and others. 1923 CHAFE 23 The other sealing skippers ridiculed the idea and their argument was that a large vessel could never be turned in the ice. 1976 CASHIN 44 The first, and I would say the most colourful of Newfoundland sealing skippers, was the then well-known Captain Arthur Jackman. 1981 Evening Telegram 27 Mar, p. 3 The first three sealing skippers back from this year's hunt all complained yesterday about ice conditions their crews worked under.
sealing spring: period when harp and hooded seals, having whelped on the floes, are hunted;
Cp SPRING1.
1933 GREENE xv A Sealing Spring: Lasts from the middle of February to the middle or end of May.
sealing steamer: large vessel, powered by steam, engaged in the seal hunt among the ice-floes.
1895 PROWSE 453 When Mr Walter Grieve sent the first sealing steamer to the ice it was a poor day for Newfoundland. 1923 CHAFE [iii] In 1866, there were five sealing steamers engaged, while the number of sailing vessels was one hundred and seventy seven... At present the total of sealing steamers is but eight, while the sailing fleet has disappeared altogether. 1950 Daily News 23 July, p. 3 [The S.S. Eagle] the last of the old wooden sealing steamships ... made her final voyage yesterday.
sealing ticket: see TICKET.
sealing time: see sealing season, ~ spring.
1901 Christmas Bells 14 The good people ... started in a body for the forest, there to remain until March, or as the male sex would have it, 'until swoilin' time,' when in truth good work would be done in that line.
sealing vessel: sailing craft or engine-driven ship of varying size engaged in the seal hunt among the ice-floes.
1826 Edin New Phil J i, 37 The capelin is also sometimes taken in the month of April, by the sealing vessels, among the ice on the banks. 1866 WILSON 277 The swearing ... drinking, and general profanity, in the sealing-vessels are truly fearful. 1871 HOWLEY MS Reminiscences 13 Many a fine sealing vessel or Labradorman has come to grief on those awful rocks and shoals. 1978 Evening Telegram 10 Mar, p. 1 The four Newfoundland ... sealing vessels have been unable to penetrate the standing ice.
sealing voyage: enterprise or period of prosecuting the seal hunt among the ice-floes; trip;
VOYAGE.
1840 GOSSE 25 In the latter part of May [in Newfoundland], after the sealing voyage is closed, among other preparations for the cod-fishery, the crews are sent into the woods to cut rinds. 1855 WHITE MS Journal Mar 'Journal of a Sealing Voyage on board Brig Evanthes.' 1866 WILSON 276 The length of time spent in sealing-voyages is from three to eight weeks. [1882] 1898 Nfld Law Reports 441 The fishery mainly and almost exclusively contemplated by the Act is the sealing voyage, which for all purposes of local construction and intendment is one of the fisheries of the colony. 1900 PROWSE 70 No intoxicating liquors shall be carried in any ship, vessel or boat engaged in any fishing or trading voyage, except vessels engaged on a sealing voyage, beyond such quantity (not exceeding four gallons) as may be bona fide required or necessary for ship's stores. 1964 BLONDAHL (ed) 75 "The Sealers' Song": And the owners will supply them as they did in days of old, / For in Newfoundland the sealing voyage means something more than gold.
