Il6 NATURAL HISTORY ESSAYS 



black seals is not to be expected ; indeed, these 

 gentry will on occasion do a little amateur sealing, 

 like the fishing party that exploited the Anina 

 Islands during 1877-78. Then again, the sheltered 

 Inlets of the kays and islands yield valuable food fish, 

 and hence attract fishermen. Even the Pedro Kays^ 

 visited by Mr. Wilkie, were so well known for their 

 animal riches that they had received the Spanish 

 name oivivei'o {warren or fishpond). Captain Martin 

 was on a fishing and trawling excursion to the Red 

 Snapper Bank when he obtained the seal for the 

 New York Aquarium. Lastly, even the mudflats 

 swarm with thousands of holuthuria or sea cucum- 

 bers, which men harvest in cartloads. There is 

 thus considerable likehood that the Jamaica seal, 

 unless speedily protected, will become extinct. 

 Already, localities formerly associated with it (the 

 Dog Rock for instance) know it no more. If 

 efficient protection can be given at the eleventh 

 hour — even for selfish commercial purposes — this 

 seal might be saved; the United States Govern- 

 ment, already known to favour game preservation 

 and with increased influence in the Caribbean since 

 the Cuban war, might well pass some enactment to 

 protect the goose which lays the golden eggs. 



The diminished numbers of the grey whale and 

 the practical extermination of the Pacific walrus truly 

 point a moral if they do not adorn a tale. These 

 beasts instead of inhabiting the pleasant waters of 



