"I wanted to learn everything that was to be learnt about a whaler's life, and to become acquainted with the special parts of the ocean that have to be visited by vessels in the trade in order to find a profitable fishing ground." "But you've been talking about seals, not whales," remarked Fritz.
"Yes, because it is with seals that my present business lies," said the other, not a bit put out by the correction.
"Banished now from their once favourite waters around Cape Horn, adjacent to the islands of the Pacific, there are yet some stray outlandish spots left which the animals frequent, so as to be able to breed in peace and multiply, without fear of that wholesale extermination which is their unhappy lot elsewhere.

Amongst such isolated places is the Tristan d'Acunha group; and, to Inaccessible Island as well as the other islets they come in countless numbers every year.

Seal fishing is a very profitable concern; for, not only is the oil valuable, but the skins fetch the most extravagant prices in the market, especially those of the finer sort.

Now, do you see what I'm after, brother ?" "You want to go sealing, I suppose; but, won't you have plenty of that in the _Pilot's Bride_ with Captain Brown, eh ?" "Not in the way I mean," replied Eric.

"I have an idea of settling for a time at Tristan d'Acunha, going in thoroughly for the thing as a business on shore." Fritz appeared to prick up his ears at this.
"But, I thought you said there was a colony there already; why don't the people manage to cultivate the trade?
Besides, if they have it all their own way, I think they would not like a couple of strange interlopers, like you and me, going amongst them to rob them of their harvest from the sea!" "Ah, I see you're bitten with the idea," exclaimed Eric, clapping his hands triumphantly.