SEALS IN N.Z. WATERS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17812, 11 July 1923, Page 8

SEALS IN N.Z. WATERS.

"AN AMAZING INCREASE." (SPECIAL TO "THE. I'BBSS.") WELLINGTON, July 10. According to a statement made in the Legislative Council to-day, seals are rapidly increasing m numbers 111 the vicinity of -> e.v Zealand. iSir i'rancis JJell said tiinfc alter the ivar the present Government insisted on refusal of all permits to kiii seals. Ihe results had been extraordinary, and tne number ot seals had increased amazingly. The (jarnpbeii Islands had been leased for pastoral purposes, ana tnere were some mliauitunts tnere looking atter sneep. j-Wie were no inhabitants ol the Auckland islands, and none on tiie Antipodes. iiCpresentations were made to tne Government that Norwegians and other roamers of tne seas were sealing in those parts, and tnat the seais were being slaughtered. An arrangement was come to whereby the lessee of Campbell Islands and his men were appomieu custodians of the sealing grounds, in return for which they were to be allowed 400 bull seals per year. The arrangement had i,een an excellent one, and txTe seals were increasing at a great rate. Sir i'rancis Bell said he believed the day was fast coming when the fur sealing industry in New Zealand would be .very valuable. He was sorry to say that there had.been practically no return of the seals to the West Coast Sounds, but he believed that would come. A great deal had been done since the unfortunate mistake of ten years ago, of letting the seals be destroyed.