222 REPORT OP BRITISH COMMISSIONERS. 



the present century, but the islands on which it once abonnded are now reported, 

 and believed to be, almost entirely depleted of seals. As the habits and life-history 

 of the fur-seal of the North Pacific appear to be closely similar to those of the allied 

 seals of the Southern Hemisphere, it is thought probable that the history of the 

 decline of the southern fisheries may afford some facts having a direct bearing on 

 the fur-seal fisheries of the North Pacific, and may serve to indicate a proper mode 

 of protection to be accorded to these fisheries, if such should be found necessary. 



In this connection, it would be of particular interest to know for each of the seal 

 islands ut sealing-grounds of the Southern Hemisphere: 



1. Whether the decline or destruction of the fishery is attributable to the slaughter 

 of the seals while on shore at their breeding-places, or to their pursuit at large on 

 the circumjacent ocean. 



2. In what manner the fur-seal fishery has been or is conducted in each particular 

 locality. 



3. Whether any, and, if any, what measures have been taken by various Govern- 

 ments towards the protection of the fur-seal fisheries in their territories or in places 

 within their jurisdiction; and, further, if any such measures are known to have 

 proved successful in preserving or rehabilitating the fisheries. 



4. Generally, any particulars as to the life-history of the animal, its migration, 

 season of bringing forth its young, and the habits of the seals while engaged in 

 suckling and rearing the young. 



It is also particularly requested that copies of any printed documents or Reports 

 referring to the fur-seal fisheries, or embodying Regulations provided for these fish- 

 eries, may be furnished. 



Beply to Circular received from the Government of the Cape of Good Hope. 



MINUTE. 



In acknowledging the receipt of his Excellency the Governor's Minute of the 25th 

 August last, inclosing a despatch from the Right Honourable the Secretary of State 

 for the Colonies, rec|uestiiig to be supplied with certain particulars respecting the 

 fur-seal fishery of this Colony for the information of the Canadian Government, 

 Ministers have the honour to submit herewith a Report which has been received 

 from the Government Agent in charge of the seal and guano islands, affording the 

 desired particulars. 



(Signed) J. W. Saukr. 



Cape Town, Ootoier SO, 1891. 



Report upon the present Condition of the Seal Fishery on the Coasts of the Cape of Good 



Hope. 



The decline of the seal fishery in these waters is attributed by practical experts 

 entirely to the destruction of the females in the breeding season, and but for the 

 fact that there are many places almost inaccessible, and others where landing is diffi- 

 cult, the seal in these waters would probably have been exterminated, as no protec- 

 tion or legislation of any kind has ever been considered necessary. 

 155 During the "springs," as they are technically called, at certain seasons of 



the year, the seals are destroyed with clubs by men landing upon the islands 

 from boats. 



The winter or shedding season commences in June and ends in August, during 

 which period numbers of male seals are killed, but very few females, who do not 

 appear to come out of the water at this season of the year. 



The summer or breeding season, which extends from November to January, is, 

 however, by far the most important as regards the number of seals destroyed, and 

 of these the larger portion are females, either about to give birth or suckling their 

 young. Of course, in the former case, all these seals are lost; in the latter, the 

 greater number perish; and but for a happy provision of nature, whereby a female 

 seal will suckle any young one, the destruction of the new-born seal would be com- 

 plete. 



As the Colonial Government up to the present have always contented themselves 

 with letting out the islands upon short leases, with no restriction upon the lessees 

 as to the killing of seal, &c., no official information or statistics of any kind can be 

 furnished. 



The life of a seal in the southern waters, if unmolested, is supposed to extend over 

 a cousiderable period, and it arrives at maturity in about three years. The old male 



