217 



HAIR SEAL FISHERIES. 



The pursuit of the Elephant Seal in the southern seas 

 and the Pacific Ocean, was a profitable occupation in 

 the) first half of the present century. Owing to the 

 decimation of the southern species the sealers have 

 changed their field of operations, and now the Greenland 

 Seal is the species mainly hunted, and the principal seal- 

 ing grounds are off Newfoundland and Labrador, and in 

 the seas adjacent to Jan-Mayen Island; although quite a 

 number of Hair Seals, of other species, are taken in the 

 Arctic Ocean, and in the White and Caspian Seas. 



It is interesting to trace the evolution of the sealing 

 industry in the Newfoundland district, from the day 

 when the Seals were taken in nets set from the shore 

 or beneath the ice, through various stages of develop- 

 ment when expeditions were sent out, first in large boats, 

 and later in small schooners, to harpoon, shoot or club 

 the Seals upon the ice or in the sea, to the present time 

 when large steamers carry crews of from 150 to 300 men 

 to the immense ice fields, far out in the sea, where the great 

 herds resort for the purpose of producing their young. 



The cubs, which weigh about five pounds at the time 

 of their birth, grow so rapidly, that at the end of four 

 weeks the skins, with the three or four inches of fat 

 which have accumulated beneath, weigh from forty to 

 fifty pounds each. It is at this time, when the oil that is 

 yielded is of the best quality, and their capture is easy 

 because they have not yet taken to the water, that the 

 young Seals are killed. When the steamer reaches the 

 floe upon which the Seals are congregated the hunters 

 take to the ice, armed with poles or gaffs that have a hook 

 at one end, and are shod with iron at the other. A blow 

 on the nose quickly despatches the animals, and then the 

 skins with the fat adhering to them are rapidlj^ detached 

 with scalping knives. The skins secured are rolled into 

 bundles, and taken aboard ship. When the ship reaches 

 port the skins are separated from the fat, and salted for 

 export to Great Britain and other parts, where they are 

 sold as "Wool-seals" to furriers. The fat is ground by 



