THE ZOOLOGIST 



No. 717.— March, 1901. 



NOTES ON THE SEAL AND WHALE FISHERY 



OF 1900. 



By Thomas Southwell, F.Z.S. 



The unusually mild winter of 1899-1900, and the consequent 

 absence of ice in the bays on the east coast, led to the prediction 

 that the past season would be a very favourable one for the 

 sealing fleets, both in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and off the east 

 of Newfoundland. This has been amply verified, and the take 

 was the largest which I have had to record in my notes, now 

 extending over twenty consecutive years. Other circumstances 

 have also been in favour of the venture, and with the increased 

 value of produce the past season must be regarded as quite a 

 record one. 



The steam sealing-fleet of the year 1900 consisted of nineteen 

 vessels — the ' Esquimaux ' of Dundee having been added — eleven 

 of which cleared from St. John's, one from Bay Roberts, three 

 from Greenspond, and four from Channel (Port au Basques) — 

 the latter for the Gulf fishery — all sailing, as usual, on the 

 10th of March. 



By Monday the 12th the Seals were found covering a vast 

 field of level ice about forty-five miles N. by E. of the Funks, 

 and extending over a circuit of some thirty miles, the number 

 being very large, and the ice-field was so easily appi'oached that 

 all the vessels could reach its occupants readily, and lie in close 



Zool. 4th ser. vol. F., March, 1901. H 



