taken ; in i860, 444,000 ; in 1872, 278,000 ; in 1882, 156,000 

 — the smallest on record ; while in the present year the 

 catch is about 400,000. 



We know that winds and ice play an important part 

 in the prosecution of the sealing voyage ; but there is a 

 strong conflict of opinion as to whether the species is not 

 diminishing in quantity. The falling-ofF of the catch of 

 late years is probably, in some degree at least, ascribable 

 to this cause, and hence has arisen the serious question 

 whether some measures of restriction may not be applied 

 with advantage. At present the only regulating law is one 

 which restrains steamers from proceeding on their voyage 

 before the loth of March, while sailing vessels may leave 

 port on the first. About the 1st of March the seal brings 

 forth its young upon the ice-fields. The young seal, which 

 is the most eagerly sought after, is matured for commercial 

 use about the 20th of March, when the skin and fat, sepa- 

 rated from the carcase, has a weight of fully forty pounds. It 

 taken about the loth or 12th, the weight is not over twelve 

 or fourteen pounds. It is to prevent the taking *of im- 

 mature seals, and the consequent loss, that steamers are 

 kept back, thus preventing their premature appearance on 

 the scene of slaughter. When winds prevail from the 

 shore, and keep the ice slack, a ship can travel more or 

 less at discretion, and the result on the whole is then a 

 success. A prevalence of east wind generally blocks the 

 coast, and packs the ice in the surrounding seas, so that at 

 the critical period between the 15th and the end of March, 

 should this condition of things prevail, the ships are im- 

 prisoned, and the issue is a losing one. It sometimes 

 happens that ships are fortunately jammed amidst mul- 

 titudes of seals, and then they obtain their full fares 

 without chance of competition from those outside. As 



