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1 eterliead, were unanimous in their request that a “close-time” 
might be enacted ; the only dillerence of opinion being as to the 
day on which it was considered desirable tliat the fishery should 
commence. Ihe result of this universal feeling was, that after 
coimilting with the iNforwegian Government, an Act was passed in 
187.), proliibiting any llritisli subject from killing, capturing, &c., 
any .Seal within an area included between the parallels of sixty- 
aoven and seventy-five degrees north latitude, and the meridians 
of file degiees east ami sev'cnteeii degrees west longitude, under a 
penalty not exceeding £000 for each offence, one-half to go to the 
prosecutors. J he time when it was to become legal to take Seals 
was left to be determined by an Order in Council, and after 
mutual com essions on the jiarts of those concerned, it was fixed to 
take place on the .'3rd of April. 
for some reason the Act of 187o was not enforced till the year 
1877, since which time its regulations have been strictly adhered 
to b\ .ill the vessels of various nations which have taken part in 
the Greenland Seal fishery. The Se.als have now been protected 
lor five sc.asons, and through the kindness of one of our most 
cxiierienced sealers— Captain David Gr.ay— whose efforts largely 
assisted ill the good work of iironioting the Act of Parliainent 
referred to, the writer is en.abled to give a brief summary of each 
subsequent year’s operations, showing the effect of the “close-time,” 
so far as can be at present estimated : this cannot be better done 
than in our inforinant’s own words. 
“In 1877 the ‘close-time’ c.anie into force, and Avhen the 
opening day dawned, the 3rd of April, thirty-two steamers and one 
axiling bng put their crews on to the ice to scramble for a share, 
lor it could bo c.alled nothing else. Every Seal was cle.arcd off the 
ice m a day and a half, with about an average of two thousand five 
uuidred Seals per ship. It w.as still said that this could not be 
the mam p.ack of Seals, and the ships accordingly went aw.ay in 
search of more but Avithout finding any. 
“In 1878, the sealing opened under rather different circum- 
stances, there being only sixteen steamers amongst the Seals 
consequently the average catch was .about four thousand. 
“ In 1879, we again h.ad tlic whole deet of over tliirty steamers 
congiegatcd about the .Seals before the opening day. The result 
