RESULTS. 197 



fact tliat from eig-hty to ninety per cent of the Destruction of 



" "^ "^ ^ female seals. 



seals killed in tlie open sea are females, the 

 majority of which are either pregnant, or having 

 been delivered of their pups, are the sole means of 

 sustenance for their offspring. The sex of a seal 

 can not be told Avhen it is in the water, except 

 an old bull seal, who can be recognized by his 

 size/ Under these circumstances it is impossible 

 to discriminate as to sex,^ and no effort is made 

 to do so, the hunters shooting or spearing every 

 seal that approaches the boat.^ On this point 

 there is a large array of testimony to be found 

 in the Appendix. Rear-Admiral Sir M. Culme- 

 Seyinour, in a communication to the Britisli Ad- 

 miralty, says, in relation to this matter: "I may 

 mention that female seals can not be distinguished 

 from males when killed asleep on the water at 

 sea."^ As has already been shown, the destruc- 

 tion of the females of the herd is the principal 

 cause of the decrease,^ and the full extent of the 

 pernicious effects of pelagic sealing is clearly 

 shown on examination of the sex of the seals 

 taken by the sealing vessels. 



1 J. A. Bradley, Vol. II, p. 227; Chicldnoff et al., Vol. II, p. 219; 

 F. F. Feeuey, Vol. II, p. 220. 



2E. W. Soron, Vol. II, p. 479; Charles Peterson, Vol. II, p. 345. 



sGregaroff, et al., Vol. II, p. 234; N. Hodgson, Vol. II, p. 367; E. 

 Morehead, Vol. II, p. 467. 



••Inclosnre 3 in No. 3, British Blue Book, U. S. No. 2 (1890), 

 C-6131, p. 4. 



6 Ante, p. 177. 



