A big bull seal joined hubby on a fishing trip today. It happily took the fishy tit bits offered.
I wondered whether the visitor might be one of the (almost) friendly seals that guard the harbour from their compatriots. They are large, their huge forms curve out of the water like the pictures you see of hump backed whales and their heads are very broad. From a distance they look like bull seals. They know they are on to a good thing as they get all the left overs and some, from the fishing boats that tie up; that's why they keep other seals out and reserve all rights for themselves. That is also why those two seals are gigantic. Could they be described as clincally obese?!
No, the seal that visited the boat out at sea, in waters at least 100ft deep, was definitely a bull seal and an old one. Hubby was enjoying his privileged commune with this sea borne mammal for some time, just as the visitor to the boat was enjoying the fruits of his contact from the land lubber.
Then, there was a tug on the line and through the clear water, a fairly large fish could be seen at the end of it. As the fish was pulled in, a large black form was also seen moving underwater in towards the catch. The race was on! The fish was landed in the nick of time.