228 REPORT OP BRITISH COMMISSIONERS. 



tlie Governineiit might be recommended to lease the islaTids, allowing only a certain 

 number to l)e tiiken annnally, and on no account to allow the females to lie killed. 



In New Zealand, from the year 1855, the statistics of the export of seal-skins show : 



In 1855, from Wellington, 580 skins were exported; in 1857, 376. From then until 

 1868 there is no record. Then, in 1868, 675 ; 1861), 14 ; 1870, 269 ; 1871, 755 ; 1872, 2,012 ; 

 1873, 1,602; 1874, 1,061; 1875, 2.767; 1876, 3,417; 1877, 1,503; 1878, 820; 1879, 2,484; 

 18S0, 2,648; 1881, 1,2.59; 1882, 353; 1883, nil; 1884, .374. 



Professor J. H. Middleton states that the annual value of the fur-seal fisheries of 

 the world is about 185,000/. The male seal does not attain his full size till he is 

 about 6 years old, and the female wiien she is about 4. There is, says Mr. J. Clarke, 

 in a paper printed in the "Contemporary Review," a remai-kable disparity of size 

 and build between tliem. In a species where the male would be 7 feet or 8 feet in 

 length, and weigh 500 lbs. or 700 lbs., the female would not be more than 4 feet 

 160 long, and weigh from 80 lbs. to 100 lbs. The males, when aged, are whitish 

 grey, and between 7 feet to 8 feet in length; when adult, brown-grey to black- 

 grey, and about 6 feet in length : young, grey, upper portions soon assume darker 

 colours; pups, black. The females when adult are ash-grey to silver-grey, at times 

 golden-buff, frequently spotted: from 3 ft. 6 in. to 4 ft. 6 in. in length, even more 

 when aged; pups, bhack. The under-fur of both sexes is rich reddish, diversified 

 by deeper or lighter shades, and variable in length and abundance, the whole being 

 influenced by health, sex, and condition. 



He thought the Government should step in now, as the sealing industry might 

 prove a valuable source of revenue to the Colony in the future. 



Viscount Kawase to the Marquis of /Salishurii. — {Eeccircd Decem7)er 15.) 



Legation ok Japan, Loudon, Decemher 14, 1891. 

 M. LE Marquis: I have the honour to inform your Excellency that, at the request 

 of Sir George Haden-Powell, one of Her Majesty's Commissioners on the seal fisheries, 

 I obtained from my Government a rapidly prepared Memorandum as to such fisheries 

 in .Japan. I have the pleasure to hand your Excellency herewith a translation of 

 this Memorandum, which may be of interest to the above-named Commissioner. 



I may possibly receive a further more detailed Report on the same subject, in which 

 case I will forward a translation of it to your Excellency. 

 I have, &c. 



(Signed) Kawa«e. 



MEMORANDUM ON TIIK SEAL FISIIEHIES IN JAPAN. 



[Trnnslation.] 



[N. B. — In this Memorandum " seal " does not always mean " seals proper," but includes sometimes all 

 kinds of sea animals. Word "county" is iiot always api)lied to subdivision of Prefecture 

 ("ken"), but soiiietimos it is meant for the division ("kuni") of the old system.] 



Seals are considered among the most important products of Hokkaido. 



They are found in every part of the Kurilo group, from Shimshu in the north to 

 Shikotan and Kunashir in the south; Urup and Itrup being their favourite haunts. 



Although the history of the origin of seal-hunting cannot be accurately traced, 

 it appears that about 170 years ago a few natives of Akishi, in Kushiro, emigrated 

 to Shibetoro, in Itrup, and occupied themselves in hunting seals, eagles, bears, 

 &c., which they brought back to Akishi every year when the sea was free from ice 

 (after April and May), in order to barter them for rice and other necessaries of life; 

 while the natives of Akishi visited this new Colony for the exchange of these com- 

 modities. 



In the course of time the emigrants increased by degrees, settling down in such 

 places as Toshiruri, Rianshi, in that islaud, and became hunters of seals and other 

 sea animals in the neighbourhood. 



In 1765 (about 120 years ago) seal fishery became very prosperous, and the natives 

 of Rashua, as well as ihe old islanders of Itrup, carried on their hunting business in 

 the Isles of Horomoshir, Makaruru, Shimsir, Urup, &c. 



In the same year the Russians first made their ap])earance in the Islands of Rashua 

 and Musir. In the following year they came to Itrup, and having obtained informa- 

 tion about the localities froni the natives, they went to the Island of Urup, where 

 they stayed for three years. During their sojourn there they treated the natives in 

 a very cruel manner, and provoked their great anger. But the natives being power- 

 less to resist their oppressors, their Chief at last Hcd from the island. 



