Now famous those old "wooden walls"
The stalwarts of the sealing game
Each spring would go to harvest seals
And seek the raging elements to tame

Two icefield destinations sought
To harvest there the pelts so fine
The Gulf was one, the Front the other
Off our Northeast coast sublime


First time that steam replaced old sail
And sent by firms with great intent
To harvest pelts on a larger scale
And swell their coffers they were bent

The crews they walked from every port
Each March into old St John’s town
To man these wooden walls so fine
A rite of passage and renown

Carrying with them on their sleds
Their meagre possessions, no real crown
Sealers came in droves cheered on
When passing through each outport town

These wooden walls were worked real hard
Not well cared for and bereft of paint
They valiantly did their expected duty
Year after year without complaint

The firms involved were of old British stock
The Jobs, the Bowrings, the Grieves self made
The Ridleys, Munns, Harveys and Stewarts
All seeking their fortunes in the sealing trade

The hulls of fame and story bold
Wolf, Bloodhound, Osprey, Panther so true
Esquimaux, Nimrod, Kate and Eagle
Just to single out a few

The captains made their marks so fine
William Kean, William Ryan, and Alexander Graham too
Edward White, Robert Dawe and Terry Halleran
James Murphy and Isaac Bartlett to name a few

These stalwart vessels lasted long
Doing yeoman service at the time
Until replaced by steel hulled craft
With power to spare and strength sublime

Now they have made their mark for sure
So well remembered by their fame
And will no doubt in history shine
So important in the sealing game

The beginnings of steam power in the sealing industry, replacing sail in old wooden hulls and affectionately known as “wooden walls.”
  Submitted By: John Cornick