91 



would be that of the final extinction of the Seal as a permanent 

 resident in Yorkshire, though solitary individuals have been 

 observed to within the last tAventy years." And in the appendix 

 (page 135) they further state "respecting the date of extinction, 

 information received from Mr. H. G. Faber, of Stockton-on- 

 Tees, and Mr. H. T. Mennell, shows that this animal survived 

 much later than is stated " above. "The latter has furnished 

 a copy of his and Mr. Perkin's list of the Mammalia of North- 

 umberland and Durham, published in 1863, wherein is stated 

 that between 1820 and 1830 about a thousand seals frequented 

 the mouth of the Tees, of which as many as thirty might often 

 be counted at one time ; but that in 1862 the number was 

 reduced to three individuals. The Seals exhibited gi'eat dread 

 of the steamboats, which had greatly increased in number on 

 the river during the preceding few years ; and to this and the 

 enormous increase of population in the neighbourhood, was 

 attributed their rapid decrease. 



" Mr. Faber remembers the Seal being numerous at the 

 Tees mouth, and has seen them lying on the sands as many as 

 a dozen together. He recollects disturbing one about twenty 

 years ago, on Seaton Snook, which was very tame, swimming 

 about within twenty yards, and could only be driven away by 

 throwing stones at it. He adds that the last native Seal "was 

 killed about ten years ago, when it was shot from the Fifth 

 Buoy Light. A small Seal got about a year ago was but a mere 

 casual visitant. It will thus be seen that the animal survived 

 a good deal later than the evidence available at the time of 

 writing the list would lead one to suppose." 



So late as 1867, however, as I have been informed by a 

 gentleman who was in the habit of shooting on the Tees, it was 

 a common occurrence to see from twenty to thirty on the sand- 

 banks at one time. They were, doubtless, then on the decrease, 

 and had been for many years, as a large amount of shipping 

 traffic was then developed in the Tees. It could hardly be 

 expected that they would long survive the enormous develop- 

 ment of the iron and shipping trades, and the reclamation 

 works which have been for years going on in the river. My 

 friend informs me that they are very wary, and when approached 

 in a h^at it was an amusing sight to see them tumble about, 

 throwing up the sand in all directions, in their awkward and 

 seemingly ludicrous efforts to regain the water. They were, 

 however, very curious, and would follow the boat at a safe 

 distance. When on the sands they generally kept within about 

 twenty yards of the water ; but he remembered assisting to 



