266 REPORT OF BRITISH COMMISSIONERS. 



'"Dnrinti tliis absoncc in the sea the male pups have changed from the grey to a 

 light brown colour, while the females remain unalteied. 



" 'In New South Wales the sealing trade was at its height from 1810 to 1820, the 

 lirst systematic promoters of whicli were the Sydney tirms of Cable, Lord, and 

 Underwood; Rilie and Jones; Birnie; and Ilook and Campbell. The vessels employed 

 by them were manned by crews of from twenty-tive to twenty-eight men each, and 

 were fitted out for a crnize of twelve months. 



" 'The mode of capture adopted Avas: The men selected for the shore party would 

 number from six to eighteen, this being regulated by the nuire or less numerous gath- 

 ering of seals seen in the rookery. These men always land well to leeward, as the 

 scent of the animal is very keen, and cautiously keep alonii the edge of the water 

 in order to cut otf the possibility of retreat; tlion when abreast of the mob they 

 approach the seals and drive them up the beach to some convenient spot, as a small 

 nook or naturally formed inclosure; this accomplished, one or two men go in to the 

 attack, while the others remain engaged in preventing outl)reak8. As soon as a suffi- 

 cient number have been slain to erect a wall of the dead, then all hands rush in to 

 the general massacre.'" 



193 Appendix (E). 



Seal Preskrvatiox Regulations and Ordinances. 



Falkliind Islands. I Japan. 



Cape of Good Hope. | Newfoundland. 



Greenland Seas. 



Falkland Islands. 



[By liis Excellency Thomas Kerr, Governor.] 

 No. 4, 1881. 



An Ord'ivnnce in provide for the esfnhHiihiueiit of a Clone Time in the Seal Fishery of the 

 Falkland Islands and their Dependencies and the Seas adjacent thereto. 



Whereas the seal fishery of these islands, which was at one time a 

 source of profit and advantage to the colonists, has been exhausted 

 by indiscriminate and wasteful fishing, and it is desirable to revive 

 and protect this industry by the establishment of a close time during 

 which it shall be unlawful to kill or capture seals within the limits of 

 this Colony and its dependencies. 



Beit therefore enacted by the Governor of the Falkland Islands and 

 their dependencies, with the advice and consent of the Legislative 

 Council thereof, as follows: 

 Close time for 1. No person shall kill or capture, or attempt to kill or capture, any 

 seal fialieiy, iiiul seal within the limits of this Colony and its dependencies, between 

 {) ^"clii^ * * ^ * ^"'^ the days hereinafter mentioned (Aviiich interval is hereinafter referred 

 to as the close season), that is to say, between the 1st day of October 

 and the 1st day of April following, both inclusive, and any person act- 

 ing in contravention of this section shall forfeit any seals killed or 

 captured by him, and shall, in addition thereto, incur a penalty not 

 exceeding 100/., and a further penalty of 5/. in respect of every seal so 

 killed or captured. 

 Liability of 2. Any owner or master, or other person in charge of any ship or 

 owner and mas- vessel, who shall permit such shij) or vessel to be employed in killing 

 terof ship. ^j. capturing seals, or who shall permit any person l)elonging to such 



ship or vessel to be employed in killing or capturing as aforesaid 

 during the close season, shall forfeit any seals so killed or cajitured, 

 and, in addition thereto, shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding 

 300/. for each offence. 

 Prosecution of ^- Every olfence under this Ordinance may be prosecuted, and every 

 ofl'euces. penalty under this Ordinance may be recovered, before the Police 



Magistrate or any two Justices of the Peace in a summary manner, or 

 by action In the Supreme Court of this Colony, together with full 

 costs of suit: Provided that the penalty imposed by the Police Magis- 

 trate or two Justices shall not exceed 100/., exclusive of costs. 



