REPORT OF BRITISH COMMISSIONERS. 239 



by a Itl'iw will) a clnb. Thti ostablishiiient for the Castillos Islfinds is at Polonia, on 

 the. iiiaiiilaiKl, whoure the sealers jiioceed iu boats when they jndge that there is a 

 I'avonrable opportunity. 



The general opinion seems to be thnt there has been no diminution in the number 

 of the seals, at any rate of recent years. In 1876 a Decree was issued establishing a 

 close season from the 16th October to the Slst May, and this Law is strictly enforced. 

 A copy in translation is annexed. 

 As has been seen above, there is no pelagic seal-fishing off tlie coast of Uruguay. 

 The iitfures of the exjiort of seal-skins and nutria skins (the latter is a large fresh- 

 water rat, Myopoiamus Coijpus, inhabiting the rivers) for the last six years preceding 

 1891 are as follows: 



1885 25,885 



1886 24,191 



1887 42,348 



1888 22,542 



1889 30,211 



1890 38,462 



Although there is thus considerable variation in the yield of the fisheries, there 

 does not appear to be any ground for supposing a constant diminution. 



The female fur-seal produces one at a birth, the male pups being the more numer- 

 ous. The pupping season begins in November. The mothers are very careful of 

 their young. When the latter are about a fortnight old the mothers take them down 

 to the' water and teach them to swim. They suckle their young for nearly a year. 

 The seals never entirely abandon the islands, but go to and fro their fishing banks, 

 which are not far off. 



The mating season is in December and .January. During this time the males often 

 fight savagely for possession of the females, and numbers may be seen lying on the 

 islands or shore of the mainland helpless from their wounds. 



The fisheries in ITruguay are leased to a private Company, of which Don fjuillernio 

 Lalone is Managing Director. 



DKCRRE ESTABLISHING A CLOSE SEASON. 



['I'l-iin.slaticn.] 



The Government being unable to remain indifterent to the denunciations of the 

 periodical press with reference 1o the abuses committed in "exploiting" the amphib- 

 ious animals that populate the Islands of Lobos, E^pinillo, and Tolonia, and the regu- 

 lation of this industry, implying not only an advantage for the Company which 

 pursues it, as well as' a duty a})pertaining to the public Administration charged 

 with the preservation and development of those factors of the national wealth, the 

 Provisional Governor in Council decrees: 



Article 1. The slaughter of seals on the above-mentioned islands shall commence 

 on the 1st day of June, and terminate on the 15th day of October in each year. 



Art. 2. The Civil Administrator of the Department of Mahlonado is charged with 

 the execution of the present Decree, and he will take the necessary measures for its 

 due execution. 



Art. 3. Let this be communicated, published, and deposited in the public archives. 



(Sigued) Latokue, 



(Countersigned) Juan A. Vasquez. 



Monte Video, Maij 13, 1S74. 



170 Appendix (C). 



VaKIOUS ^jETTETtS AND COMMUNICATIONS KELATIXG TO THE FuI!-SeALS OF THE 



British Columbian and Neighbouring Coasts. 

 Questions addressed to District Indian Agents on the Coast of British Columbia. 



[These qnestions, prepared by Dr. Dawson, were kindly forwarded by Mr. A.W. Vowell, Superintend- 

 ent of Indian Affairs in British Columbia, to the three Coast Agencies, in the summer of 1891.] 



1. Are fur seals found or hunted by Indians in any part of your district? If so, at 

 what seasons are they found in greatest numbers, and about what dates are they 

 first and last seen each year? 



2. Are fur-seals known to give birth to their young on or about any part of the 

 coast iu your district, fi'id^ if so. at what pli^ces and in M'hat seasons? 



