THK PROBOSCIS- SEAL, OR SEA-ELEPHANT. 17*> 



" As soon as the animal is killed it is skinned, then with 

 large and very sharp knives the fat is removed in long slices, 

 much in the same way as is practised by the whalers ; these 

 slices are then cut into small cubes, which are rendered over 

 a slow fire in immense cauldrons arranged for that purpose 

 along the shores ; when it is sufficiently melted, the oil is 

 poured into casks. All this operation is so rapid and easy, 

 that ten men established on the Isle of King might easily 

 procure 3000 pounds of oil daily, including the time employed 

 in killing the seals, skinning them, and preparing the blubber. 

 We found, indeed, that all the casks these men had brought 

 had been for some time filled when we arrived at the Isle of 

 King, and the commander of the establishment complained 

 that his employers had not furnished him with a twentieth 

 part of what he could have filled. 



" The quantity of oil yielded by each of these seals is pretty 

 constantly proportionate to the bulk of the animal, whatever 

 its sex or age may be ; but it is remarkably small in all the 

 individuals during the period of giving birth to and suckling 

 the young, when both males and females remain for many 

 weeks consecutively without taking any nourishment. With 

 respect to the quality of the oil, we could not observe any 

 difference between that furnished by the young and old, the 

 male and female, — it was equally good in all. As it is pre- 

 pared by the English sailors, this oil is clear, inodorous, and 

 does not contract that rancid flavour, of which you can never 

 deprive the oil of whales or fishes. Whatever kind of food it 

 is employed with, it never communicates to it any disagree- 

 able flavour. When used in a lamp it furnishes an extremely 

 pure and clear flame, without the smoke or disagreeable smell 

 which most animal oils give out : it also supports a given 

 quantity of flame for a longer period. These details were 

 communicated to us by the English fishermen, and we were 

 enabled to assure ourselves of their accuracy upon a quantity 

 of the oil which their captain, the brave Cowper, forced us to 

 accept at our departure. 



u The whole of this oil is destined for the ports of England. 

 It is there employed for various purposes of economy, but 

 particularly in the cloth manufactories, for the softening of 

 the wool, &c. It is sold, we were informed, at six shillings 

 and sixpence the gallon. It appears certain, from the obser- 

 vations of Mortimer, that the importation of this substance 

 into China would be productive of great advantage, and I have 

 no doubt it will soon become to the English a new and va- 

 luable article of exchange." — Peron, ' Voyage de Decouvertest 

 au.v Terres Australes,' torn. ii. p. 32. 



