2O2 The Commercial Products of the Sea. 



the different species to be as follows for one barrel of 

 blubber, from seals in prime condition : 



In 1850 the export of seal oil from Newfoundland was 

 6200 tuns, valued at 180,000; in 1860 it was 5565 tuns, 

 valued at 169,975 ; in 1870 it was 4982 tuns, valued at 

 176,472 ; and in 1875, 4837 tuns, valued at 132,116. 



The total value of the oil shipped from Newfoundland 

 has been as below : 



Cod oil 



1870. 



refined 



Seal oil 



21,068 

 176,472 



305,353 



1875- 

 101,420 



3,842 

 132,116 



237,378 



Thirty small sloops and steam vessels were employed 

 on the bank and Spitzbergen fisheries in 1873 ; the catch 

 resulted in 130,000 seals, 350 sea-horses or walruses, and 

 6363 barrels of liver, estimated together at a value of 

 99.669. 



Seal-skins. The seal fishery is chiefly prosecuted from 

 Newfoundland. It commences in March, and rarely lasts 

 longer than one or two months. There are from 150 to 

 200 decked vessels employed in it. These will take pro- 

 bably 2000 each, but as many as 8000 have been taken 

 on a single trip, and often two or three voyages are made in 

 one season. 



The quantity of seal-skins received in this country 

 varies ; it has been as low as 160,000, and as high as 



