REPORT OF BRITISH COMMISSIONERS. 223 



seals, called "bulls" or "whij^s," attain an enormovis size, and fiftlit desperately 

 among themselves. The females generally produce two pups at a birth, and imme- 

 diately afterwards take the male. The " cow" will suckle any of the young seals, 

 whether her own or not, and this period of nursing continues more or less for about 

 six months. 



As regards their migrations, it is difficult to give an opinion, as seals are always 

 to be found in these waters, although they do not take up u])on the islands in any 

 numbers except at the seasons I have mentioned; but I think it may be naturally 

 assumed that their migrations, whatever they may be, are regulated solely by the 

 food supply. 



Unfortunately, as I have stated before, there are no printed documents or Reports 

 of any kind referring to the subject, but I have availed myself of information kindly 

 furnished by the best practical experts in the Colony, with whom I have been asso- 

 ciated, who are unanimous in their opinion — first, that the seals are decreasing in 

 these waters; and, secondly, that the sole cause of this decrease at the present time 

 is to be found in the destruction of the females during the breeding season. 



We have practically no pursuit of lhe animals in the water on these coasts. 



At one period, most of the islands were inhabited by seals, but there are compara- 

 tively few at the present time upon those islands in the immediate vicinity of Cape 

 Town, and this may be accounted for by many reasons, besides the most important 

 wliich I have already mentioned. Seals are very timid, and the noise of a steamer 

 will scare them away; in fact, passing to windward in a sailing vessel, within 2 or 3 

 miles of an island which they frequent, will generally disturb them. It requires 

 considerable experience to approach them, and old sealers never attempt to do so on 

 these coasts when an easterly wind is blowing. 



Upon several islands, e87)ecially in the Ichaboe group, are to be foiind the remains 

 of vast numbers of "seal," probably the eliects of an epidemic disease at some dis- 

 tant jieriod. In many places, the hair, which is practically indestructible, has been 

 found mixed with earth to the depth of several feet, and this when sifted gives a fair 

 percentage of ammonia and phosphate, probably the residue of the bodies and bones 

 of the dead animals. 



The average A^'iluo of seal-skins in the rough state in the London market, taken in 

 these latitudes, is about 25s., but many fetch a much higher price. No attempt has 

 been made in the Colony to dress the skins, and there has been no sale for them locally 

 except for export. 



The system of killing the seals is the same throughout all the colonial islands, 

 namely, with "clubs," by men landing in boats. 



The skins are salted upon the spot, folded up, tied, and sent to Cape Town by 

 coasting craft, from whence they are shipped to Europe. 



(Signed) C. H. Jackson, 



Government Agent jjt charge of the Seal and Guano Islands. 



Cape Tovi^N, October 9, 1891. 



Eeply to Circular received from the Government of the Falkland l8land$. 



GOVERNOR SIR R. GOLDSWORTHY TO LORD KNUTSFORD. 



Government House, Stanley, October S6, 1891. 

 My Lord : I have the honour, in reply to your despatch of the 31st July, inclosing 

 a despatch from the Governor-General of Canada asking for information regarding 

 the seal fisheries in these seas, to forward a prdcis of the replies to the questions 

 asked, which I have been able to obtain here. 



I regret that the information is not as full as might be desired, but, nnfortunately, 

 Captain Hansen, an old and experienced sealer, from whom I had hoped to obtain 

 full particulars, was accidentally drowned before my letter, requesting his views 

 on a matter on which he was looked upon as an authority, reached him. 



I have been given to understand by those conversant with these matters — indeed, 

 it is referred to in the accompanying j)r(5cis— that foreign vessels destroy the seals 

 in the close season, which exists here from the Ist October to the 1st April. 



The foreign vessels alluded to are American scalers, and formed the sub- 

 156 .iect of correspondence between Governor Kerr and Captain Musgrave, Senior 

 Naval Officer on the South-East American Station. 

 I shall probably, when better informed on the whole question, be able to submit 

 iny views on the subject. At present I refrain from doing so. 

 I have, &c. 



(Signed) Roger Tccked. Goldsworthy. 



