82 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
the average delusive, the remaining five vessels would only show 
an average of 1235 scals, a result which must have entailed a 
very considerable loss on this ‘portion of the voyage. The 
‘Resolute,’ which killed only 495 seals in Newfoundland, after- 
wards went to Greenland, and shot 4227 old seals and three 
Bottle-nose Whales, which would help to make up her deficiency. 
One vessel, the ‘Tiger,’ was lost in the ice, but the crew were 
saved. Hitherto the practice has been to kill the young seals as 
soon after March 10th as they could be reached, and to continue 
the fishery until the end of May, thus enabling such vessels as 
succeeded in filling up early to discharge their cargoes at St. 
John’s and make a second trip to the ice; this year, however, 
the owners voluntarily agreed to close the fishing on April 25th, 
consequently only five of the vessels had an opportunity of 
making a second trip; of these one was unsuccessful, and the 
remaining four killed only 4400 seals. There can be no doubt 
the owners exercised a very wise discretion in thus restricting 
the period of fishing, for, unless the seals are to be exterminated, 
the time allowed for taking them must be curtailed, and under 
no circumstances should a vessel which had once filled up be 
permitted to make a second trip to the ice. Unless some such 
means are adopted for ensuring the escape of some of the young 
brood, the Newfoundland seal fishery, like that of Greenland, 
must inevitably before many years are past be practically 
ruined. 
For the particulars of the Greenland sealing I am again 
indebted to the kindness of my friend Capt. David Gray, a most 
interesting journal of whose voyage, kept by his eldest son who 
accompanied the ‘ Eclipse,’ I was allowed to see. The ‘Kclipse’ 
left Peterhead on February 28th, and stopping at Lerwick to 
make up her complement of men (fifty-four) she made the first 
ice on March 17th in lat. 72° 23’ N., long. 5° 40’ W., and saw a 
few Greenland and Hooded Seals next day. A few Hooded Seals 
with young ones were seen on the 28rd and on the 28th. Mr. 
Gray writes :—‘‘There are thirty-two sail in the Greenland seas 
all endeavouring to get amongst the seals before the close time 
expires; twenty-five of these are steamers more or less powerful 
and having each a great advantage over the sailing vessels, and 
the one over the other according to their steaming-power. 
Thus, as was seen to-day, the most powerful ships were farthest 
