58 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



White Whale skin is also high. The total value of the produce 

 may be roughly estimated at, say, £32,420. 



I have no special information as to the results of the fishery 

 from the Norwegian ports, but I am informed that the Bottlenose 

 fishery in the Greenland Seas has not been more than one-third 

 of that of last year. The Greenland sealing, so far as the 

 steamers are concerned, is virtually a thing of the past ; but 

 during the past season, owing to the prevalence of heavy ice 

 throughout the summer, affording rest and shelter to the Seals, 

 as well as facilitating approach to them, the small sailing vessels 

 have done very well, some making two or even three voyages. In 

 fact, the heavy ice, packed by the long-continued E. and N.E. 

 winds, is said to have extended south in the North Atlantic quite 

 to the Orkney and Shetland Islands, and a large ice-floe was 

 reported off the Treshnish Islands, and on the west coast of 

 Mull; whereas the east coast of Newfoundland, as previously 

 stated, has been unusually free from ice. 



An extraordinary migration of Seals, said to be Bearded 

 Seals (Phoca barbata), and thought to have come from their 

 breeding quarters in the White Sea, is reported on the northern 

 coast of Norway, and the practical failure of the winter fishery 

 in that locality is attributed to their presence. There is great 

 consternation among the fishermen, and it is feared that the 

 Lofodon fishery may suffer from the same cause. 



Owing to the sad death of my valued correspondent, Mr. 

 Michael Thorburn, I am largely indebted to his brother, Sir 

 Richard Thorburn, and to the columns of the St. John's 

 ' Evening Herald,' for the details of the past season's sealing 

 voyage; and to Mr. Robert Kennis, of Dundee, for those of the 

 Davis Straits fishery. 



