250 THE BOOK OF MIGRATORY BIRDS 



fishery along the north-east coast we have abundant proof, 

 and scarcely a season passes but there is evidence of 

 destruction both to fish and fishing-gear. 



Until quite recently the Fishery Board generously 

 awarded the sum of fifteen shillings to anyone producing 

 the tail of a seal as an evidence of capture, the idea being 

 to bring about its extermination. 



As to the bulk of this species of sea-urchin, it will be 

 well to state that I have seen the carcase of one lying 

 upon the shore weighing twenty-five stone, which I found 

 was killed by a shore prowler close to the column of stone 

 called the Emmanuel Head in 1908. This animal had 

 crept on to the beach, at high water, to sleep, and it was 

 easily captured. Another was killed near the Castle Point 

 weighing close upon fifty stone ; and a still more colossal 

 specimen was found by the Goswick salmon-fishers, three 

 years or so ago, which turned the scale at seventy stone. 



I have often expressed surprise that the fishermen do 

 not turn these "finds" to account by extracting the oil, 

 which, after a process of refinement, is invaluable as 

 dressing for boots and articles made of leather generally 

 a practice adopted by their comrades in the Shetlands, 

 where it is sold at three shillings and sixpence per quart. 



The skins, which can be procured for the modest half- 

 crown, are practically worthless, save as mats. 



The writer on one occasion observed the depredations of 

 one of these monsters amongst the fish, the havoc wrought 

 being prodigious and almost incredible. 



SEAL HUNTING IN GREENLAND. 



Greenland is without a doubt prolific in seal pro-> 

 duction. There are at least four species of this animal 

 inhabiting the Greenland coast-line, the species called 

 " harp,*' or " saddle-back," being by far the most 

 numerous. These seals congregate in large herds, and 



