76 WILD LIFE IN NEW ZEALAND. 



summer months, from February to May. I have always observed 

 the seals closely, and have collected many specimens. The male 

 fur-seal used to arrive about the 5th November on inaccessible 

 rocky platforms outside the entrance to the fiords or sounds, and 

 the cows began to arrive about the 1st December. At the same 

 date all the young stock males up to seven and females up to 

 three or four years old went to still more exposed places by 

 themselves, and spent the moulting season until about the end of 

 March, when, having acquired the new fur coat, they proceeded 

 to sea. The last of these ' hauling-grounds,' as they are called, 

 I have known in New Zealand was at Cape Foulwind, but formerly 

 they were all round the coast. In the breeding-grounds, or 

 ' rookeries,' the old males keep guard on the females and newly 

 born pups until the close of the rutting season, about the 15th 

 February, and then desert them, being then in a feeble and 

 emaciated condition from having fasted, and fed only on their own 

 fat, for several months. The females remain with the pups until 

 they learn to swim and to catch fish for themselves, and about tin- 

 end of May they all leave the coast, only occasionally a groggy old 

 bull remaining behind for the winter months." 



Soon after the discovery of New Zealand by Cook the abundance 

 of the fur-seals on the coast led to the exploitation of this source 

 of wealth by sealers many from Sydney, but others from far- 

 distant ports of Europe and America. Sealing from Sydney 

 appears to have commenced as early as 17!H. but it was not till 

 1801 that the trade was "free to British subjects, as to foreig: 

 although as a concession granted by a private company " (the East 

 India Company), according to Dr. MrNab. Sir Joseph Hanks, in 

 a memorandum on the " Present State of the Colony of Sidney, in 

 New South Wales." dated the 4th June, 180r> i the fur-seal, 



"The island of Van Diemen. the south-west coast of New Holland, 

 and the southern parts of New Zealand produce seals of all kinds 

 in quantities at present almost Innumerable. Their stations on 

 rocks nr in bays have remained unmolested since the Creation. 

 The beach is ineuml.er'd with their ipiant it ies. and those who visit 

 their haunts have le>s trouble ill killing them than the servants of 

 the Victualling Htliee have who kill hogs in a pen with mallets. 

 While this is the case the utmost encouragement should he _ r ivrn to 

 Those colonists who will embark in search of the <eals. 



