188 



KNOWLEDGE, 



[August 1, 1896. 



some numbers on Kcrguelcn Ijand and Crozet Island, and 

 they also inhabit, or inhabited, several other islands in the 

 Indian Ocean, such as i\Iarion, Prince Edward, 8t. I'aul, 

 and Amsterdam, although often described as a distinct 

 species under the name of <>. (lazelld. 



The South American fur-seal aiTords one of the saddest 

 examples on record of ruthless and short-sighted de- 

 slrnctiou. Soon after its discovery over a million pelts 

 are stated to have been obtained from South (leorgia, and 

 nearly an equal number from Desolation Island ; while in 

 the year 1800 considerably more tlian a hundred thousand 

 ■were shipped from the former locality. Again, in 1H21-22, 

 over three hundred thousand skins are stated to have 

 been imported into London from the South Shetlands 

 alone. At the present day the race has been more 

 than decimated, both in South Georgia and the South 

 Shetlands; and ia 1837 the number of skins from those 



Coinmou English Seal (Phuca riliiUnaJ. 



islands imported into London numbered, according to 

 Mr. Poland, only a couple of hundred. There is some 

 uncertainty with regard to the imports from the Falklands, 

 as a confusion seems to have arisen between this seal and 

 the southern sea-lion. 



Much the same story is told with regard to Crozet and 

 Kerguelen Islands, which, as our readers are doubtless 

 aware, are small barren rocks, rising in the middle of the 

 Indian Ocean some distance southwards of the tropic. 

 In his narrative of the ChaUi'mjer's voyage Lieutenant 

 Spry wrote that " the manner in which the seal fishery is 

 carried on in the surrounding seas is both extravagant 

 and destructive, for at the time of the discovery of this 

 [Kerguelen] island it swarmed with sea-elephants, 

 whales, and fur-seals. On this becoming known it soon 

 became a favourite cruising ground for those engaged in 

 the trade. This led, in an incredibly short space of time, 

 to the reduction of all these species to a mere remnant, 

 and in a few years their utter extinction is sure to follow." 

 This prophecy has not, however, been strictly fulfilled, as 

 it is stated of late years the seals, on account of the 

 absence of molestation, have tended to increase somewhat 

 in numbers. From St. Paul and Amsterdam Islands, 

 lying to the north of Kerguelen, the seals appear to have 

 been completely extirpated ; and the cruisers despatched 

 of late years from the Cape to Prince Edward and Marion 

 Islands have been unsuccessful. 



Nearly allied to th3 last is the Cape fur-seal (Otaria 

 jnisilla), which now seems to be restricted to the coasts of i 



So'ith Africa and the neighbouring islands, although it 

 probably formerly inhabited Tristan d'Acunha. As a 

 species it is characterized by the comparative straightness 

 of the facial profile, the length of the ears, the sharp, 

 overhanging nnizzle, and the elongated bristhis of the upper 

 lip. Although this seal is still fairly abundant, the pelts 

 arc of small value owing to the shortness of the under- 

 fur, those of young animals being superior in this respect 

 to the adults. Indeed, the pelts of old males — the old 

 " bulls " of the sealers — are often only usable for leather. 

 Although formerly as many as seventy or eighty thousand 

 skins were imported annually into London, the number now 

 is much reduced. The skins of young animals — " pups " — 

 are frequently used without the removal of the outer hair. 

 The most productive sealing-grounds for this species are 

 certain small islands in Algoa Pay. 



All the southern fur-seals are very similar to one 

 another, so that their specific determination is a matter of 

 great difficulty. But it now appears that the Australasian 

 seas are inhabited by a siagle species known as the New 

 Zealand fur-seal, its scientific title being otnria forateri, 

 although the name cinerea has been applied to the female. 

 Although in greatly diminished numbers, this seal is still 

 found in New Zealand and on the southern coasts of 

 Australia and Tasmania. During the earlier years 

 of Australian history it occurred in vast numbers, 

 upwards of four hundred thousand skins being exported 

 during the years 1814 and 1815. Flinders gives agraphia 

 account of the hosts in which it frequented the shores of 

 Passage Point, to the north-east of Tasmania, in his time. 

 Reckless destruction has, however, done its usual work, 

 and now the species appears to be comparatively scarce. 



The above exhausts the list of well-detined species of 

 fur-seals, which alone afford the best true sealskin. There 

 is, however, no hard-and-fast line of division between fur- 

 seals, or sea-bears, and hair-seals, or sea-lions, some of the 

 latter having a small amount of under-fur mingled with 

 the outer fur. The skins of some of these hair-seals are 

 more or less used in the fur trade, but apparently in most 

 cases without the removal of the outer fur. In regard to 

 the small Californian sea-lion ((>. i/iUespiei), which inhabits 

 both sides of the North Pacific, and is specially preserved 

 on the Farralone Islands ofi' San Francisco, it seems, 

 from Mr. Poland's account, that the fur of the back is 

 capable of yielding a poor class of sealskin. 



None of the true seals [Phocida] have under-fur, and 

 their pelts are consequently used either for manufacture 

 into leather or as fur which does not come under the 

 designation of " sealskin." For rough purposes some use 

 is made of the fur of the common English seal (Plwca 

 vitulina), although the majority of skins, like those of 

 most of the members of the family, are converted into 

 leather. More use appears, however, to be made of the 

 fur of the Greenland seal (P. i/mnlandica), Mr. Poland 

 remarking that, after the skins have gone through the 

 preparatory processes, they are " dyed black or brown, the 

 former being used for military purposes (Hussar or Fusilier 

 busbies), and also a few for fur, such as edgings for robes, 

 etc. The brown skins are used for fur purposes, and the 

 inferior qualities find a ready sale in France." From five 

 to ten shillings ia the usual value of the skins of this 

 species. 



To give some idea of the immense extent of the trade 

 in seal pelts, it may be mentioned, in conclusion, that, 

 according to a recent estimate, upwards of one hundred 

 and eighty-five thousand fur-seals and eight hundred and 

 seventy-five thousand hair-seals are annually slaughtered 

 to meet the requirements of the world. No wonder the 

 whole tribe is in danger of extermination ! 



