PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION. 



OTHER SEAL HERDS. 

 DESTRUCTION OF. 



Page 218 of The Case. 



Patagonia. — Tbe seal rookeries of Patagonia lie along the eastern 

 coast, south of about latitude 42°, and up the 



western coast to the Gulf of Penas. Formerly James W. Budington, p. 

 these regions abounded in seals, but now there 593. 

 are not enough to pay for the hunting. In 1881 1 



took 000 seals off the western coast at Pictou opening. Iu 1888-'S9 I 

 again visited the coast, but only obtained 1 skins. Great quantities 

 have been taken from the eastern coast, but at present there are no 

 seals there. 



Terra, del Fuego and the islands in the vicinity. — These islands were 

 at one time very abundant in seals, and were considered among the 

 best rookeries. I visited them in 1870-80 and took 5,000 skins. On 

 my last voyage, in 1801-'92, 1 took only 900, and the majority of these 

 came from another portion of the coast, which had not been worked 

 for twelve or fifteen years. Thousands of skins had formerly been 

 taken from these islands, but the animals are practically extinct there 

 to-day. 



Falkland Islands. — At one time these islands were very abundant in 

 seal life, but excessive and indiscriminate killing has nearly annihi- 

 lated them. 



South Georgia Island. — This island at one time produced many thou- 

 sand skins. I visited it in 1874 and got 1,450 



skins, but it had been visited five years before, James W. Budington, p. 

 ■when 800 skins were taken, and where those had 594. 

 been taken I only got 80. I found a new rookery 



which had not been not been worked, to my knowledge, and then I 

 got the remainder. In 1875 5 vessels visited the island and got 000 

 seals. The next season 4 vessels again worked it, getting 110. Since 

 that time, until January, 1892, it had not been worked, and in that 

 month I got from there 135 skins, none, however, coming from the old 

 rookeries. The seals on South Georgia are practically extinct. 



South Shetland Islands. — The shores of these islands were once cov- 

 ered with seals, but there are practically none there now. I don't think 

 100 skins could be taken from there at the present time, while I have 

 known of 1 vessel taking 00,000 in a season. Since my experience be- 

 gan, however, the biggest catch was 13,000 by a fleet of 4 vessels; that 

 was in 1871-'72. I was there at that time. The next year we took 

 about 12,000, the fleet consisting of 6 vessels. In 1873-'74 our fleet of 



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