218 Carnivora Pinnipedia. 



machinery into minute particles and steamed, and the 

 oil resulting from the process, after being exposed to the 

 rays of the sun for a time in glass-covered tanks, is bar- 

 reled for exportation. The vessels then make a second 

 trip for the capture of the older animals, whose skins are 

 principally used for leather purposes. These are taken 

 either by shooting them in the water, or by clubbing when 

 they can be caught congregating on the ice. By a conven- 

 tion between the powers interested a close time has been 

 established, and sailing vessels are not allowed to clear 

 for the fisheries before March 1st, and steamers before 

 March 10th. 



For years seal hunters from all nations conducted op- 

 erations in the Jan-Mayen district, in a reckless and bar- 

 barous way; shooting the mothers as they were suckling 

 the young, and leaving thousands of their offspring to die 

 of starvation upon the ice ; but since the establishment in 

 1876, by an international treaty between England and 

 Norway, of a close time in these waters, the industry is 

 carried on the same there as in the Newfoundland district, 

 where the hunters wait until the cubs are ready to leave 

 the mothers before killing the older animals. 



The Russians take some Seals in the White Sea. but 

 their most valuable sealing grounds are in the Caspian 

 Sea, where the animals pass the summer in deep water, 

 but in the autumn resort to the east basin, where their 

 young are born in December and January. Some of the 

 Caspian Seals are taken in nets, others are shot, but the 

 greater number are clubbed to death on the ice. The Nova 

 Zembla Fisheries, though once productive, have declined 

 in value until they are of no importance. 



Some of the Eskimo still practice what is probably the 

 oldest method of capturing Hair Seals, harpooning from 

 kayaks, or canoes made of skins. When within about 

 twenty-five feet of the Seal the hunter hurls his harpoon 

 • from a wooden thrower. A bladder, attached to the har- 

 poon by a cord, enables him to follow the course of the 

 Seal under the surface, and to wound it again and again 

 with his lance as it comes up to breathe, before it is finally 

 despatched. 



In some parts of Scandinavia the seal box is still used 

 by the natives. This is a contrivance with a swining 



