AMPHIBIOUS CARN1VORA. 95 



now so much desiderated, and would yield so rich a 

 return. 



It may be considered superfluous to read a lec- 

 ture to the trader upon a matter so nearly touching 

 his own interest ; and yet at the same time there 

 is one point which forms so essential a part 

 of our subject, that we cannot withhold a word 

 or two. These valuable creatures have often 

 been found frequenting some sterile islands in 

 innumerable multitudes. By way of illustration, 

 we shall refer only to the Fur-Seal, as occurring 

 in South Shetland. On this barren spot their 

 numbers were such that it has been estimated that 

 it could have continued permanently to furnish a re- 

 turn of 100,000 furs a year ; which, to say nothing of 

 the public benefit, would have yielded annually, 

 from this spot alone, a very handsome sum to 

 the adventurers. But what do these men do? 

 In two short years, 1821-2, so great is the rush, 

 that they destroy 320,000. They killed all, and 

 spared none The moment an animal landed, 

 though big with young, it was destroyed. Those 

 on shore were likewise immediately despatched, 

 though the cubs were but a day old. These of 

 course all died, their number, at the lowest calcula- 

 tion, exceeding 100,000. No wonder, then, that at 

 the end of the second year the animals in this loca- 

 lity were nearly extinct. So is it, we add, in other 

 localities, and so with other Seals ; so with the Oil- 

 Seals, and so with the Whale itself, every addition 

 only making bad worse. And all this might easily 





