FUR SEALING IN BASS STRAITS. 



On Wednesday, September 12, 1894, a deputation, consisting of Sir 

 James Wilson Agnew, K.C.M.G., M.U., M.E.C., Bishop Montgomery ; 

 Messrs. Curzon Allport and Alex. Morton from the Royal Society, and 

 Mr. H. W. Knight, representing the Fisheries Board, waited upon the 

 Premier (Sir Edward BraddoD) and the Chief Secretary ( Hon. W. Moore) 

 relative to the granting of a close season for the fur seals in the islands 

 of Bass' Straits. 



Sir James Wilson Agkew, K.C.M.G., M.D., M.E.C... in introducing 

 the deputation, said their object was to ask that something should be 

 done for the preservation of the fur seals in Bass Straits. If sealing 

 were allowed to be prosecuted unchecked for two or three years it was 

 certain that the seals would be exterminated. Therefore, on the 

 score of humanity alone, it was desirable that something should be 

 done to preserve these interesting and valuable animals. 



Bishop Montgomery said he had discussed the question in Bass 

 Straits with the actual sealers, and in no single instance did he find 

 anybody who wished the sealing to be thrown open altogether. 

 Although they did not want the sealing to be entirely closed, as it 

 had been of late, they were unanimous that some restriction should be 

 made so as to prevent the extermination of the animal. He pointed 

 out that every factor which had led to the closing of the seal-fishery 

 three years ago existed now, and that it was absolutely necessary that 

 something should be done for their protection. He did not know the 

 exact value of the seal in the market, but he knew that the half- 

 castes, in whom he took a great interest, were anxious to make money 

 from sealing, and if the industry were thrown open all the year round 

 the traders would come in and sweep the rocks without any reserve, 

 with the result that the industry would be completely destroyed. 

 The sealers themselves had told him that it was perfectly heart- 

 rending to hear the young seals crying for their mothers which had 

 been killed, and the end of these young creatures was that they died 

 of starvation. Therefore on the ground of humanity, and also on the 

 ground of conserving an industry to benefit the half-castes, who were 

 the only remnants of our aboriginal population, he impressed on the 

 Government the necessity for proclaiming a close season for the seals. 



Mr. Ctjrzon Allport regretted the enforced absence of Mr. Seal, 

 the chairman of the Fisheries hoard, who had the entire matter at his 

 finger ends. The Fisheries Board had no personal interest in the 

 sealing ; it was comprised of a body of men who knew perhaps more 

 than others about the subject, and they considered that if a close 

 season were abolished, they might say good-bye to the seals in every 

 portion of Tasmania, It was during the period that the young seal 

 was with its mother that protection was necessary, because at that 

 time the mother would not leave its young, and the consequence was 

 that both mother and progeny were at the mercy of the merciless 

 traders. Ten weeks had been suggested as the duration of the close 

 season, but he thought it would be rather more than that. Tasmania 

 should take to herself the credit and kudos of protecting such an 

 important industry as the sealing. The Fisheries Board had given the 

 matter their very fullest consideration, and he thought, with all due 

 deference, that their opinions should receive a little more considera- 

 tion at the hands of the Government, especially as the opinions 

 and suggestions were for the welfare of the colony. He did not think 

 there would be any difficulty in arranging with othtr Governments 

 for the protection of these animals, for they would be only too ready 

 to meet any reasonable recommendations with a view to such protec- 



