569 



This operation inaugurates a repopulation programme in the At)ru zzi with ani- 

 mals no longer to be found there, which will be financed by the VVVVF and carried 

 out by the WWF National Appeals in the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, and 

 Italy.' 



MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS ON MARINE MAMilALS 



stttdexts fob exviboxmextal quality. 



Bellport Seniok High, 

 Brookhaven, A'.Y., March 1, 1911. 



Dear Sib : At present, Senator Bernard Smith is preparing a bill which is passed 

 will protect New York's seals from being hunted in any manner. Reports of hunt- 

 ing, including a recent shooting at Moriches Inlet, point up the need for such 

 legislation. The bill will be passed if we can snipply enough support. We are con- 

 tacting environmentally oriented organizations such as yours requesting support 

 for the seal bill. 



The only seal that is found in our area is the harbor seal : however, we feel 

 the bill should protect any seal that should enter our waters. Seals are no threat 

 to the commercial fishing industry since their numbers are low. There is no sport 

 in hunting them since they may be approached easily within close shooting range. 

 The harbor seal cannot damage or be caught in modem fish traps since the mouths 

 of the traps are too small. 



Enclo.sed is a fact .sheet on Long Island's seals and a petition which you might 

 circulate. We would appreciate your sending us a copy of your supporting letter. 

 Please recycle this information to friends and other organization.s. 

 Sincerely yours, 



ROXALD ROZSA. 



Chairman of the Students for Environmental Quality. 



.lOHX H. Jensex. 

 Chairman of the Committee on Seal Protection. 

 Enclosure. 

 Address letters to : 



Senator Bernard C. Smith. Senate Chamber. Albany, New York. 

 Assemblyman Peter J. Costigan, Assembly Chamber. Albany. New York. 



New Yobk Seal Data Sheet 



Few Long Islanders have ever seen a seal. The mammal's preference for 

 northern waters and the very scarcity of mo.st pinniped species as a result of 

 long-term decimation has made their appearance a seldom witnessed pleasure. 

 Yet. they are six)tted with sufiicient regularity to confirm their presence, which 

 is being gravely threatened by man's predation. unchecked by any law. 



A letter Ln the Long Island Advance by David Pate^ reports the shooting of 

 seals in Moriches Inlet near Fire Lsland. and similar ac-counts were written as 

 early as 1896 in the Long Island Foruni." 



When man began to inhabit Long Lsland. seals came ashore in large numbers. 

 l)ut the encroachment of civilization has substantially reduced their population. 

 The numbers of seals sighted during the present century have remained fairly 

 constant \vith an estimated forty to fifty .seals seen in winter and at most a 

 possible five seals seen in summer. 



Roy Latham.' an eminent Long Island naturalist, has kept records of the 

 harbor seal ( Phoca vitulina) from 1900 to 1971. His largest record of seals in the 

 winter season was a count of fifty-two around Plum Island, grouped in pairs 

 and trios. Some Bellport High School students * reported an assemblage of thirty- 

 two seals at Moriches Inlet on February 13, 1971, and on February 17, 1971 

 another twenty-five seals in the Inlet. 



The harbor seal (P. vitulina) is the only pinniped species likely to be seen in 

 Long Island waters, although the harp and gray seals have been reported in 

 waters near the Island, and one rec-ord exists for a hooded .seal seen in East- 

 chester. New York. Harbor seals generally stay within sight of land and occa- 

 sionally enter large rivers. Their coloration varies from yellowish-gray and 



1 Pate. David, letter in Long Island Advance, Jan. 26, 1971. 

 = Long Island Forum, vol. 12. 1949. 



3 Latham. Rov. The Osprey's Xest. Orient. New York 11957. correspondence to Ronald 

 Rozsa. Bellport Senior High School. Brookhaven. X.T. 11719. 

 * Bellport Senior High School. Brookhaven, X.Y. 11719. 



