SURVEY OF FUR SEALS

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25554, 23 July 1948, Page 3

SURVEY OF FUR SEALS

DR. FALLA’S VISIT TO FOVEAUX STRAIT REPORT TO BE MADE TO MARINE DEPARTMENT (P.A.) DUNEDIN, July 22. “One of the richest areas in the world for the study of various forms of marine life” is how the Director of the Dominion Museum (Dr. R. A. Falla) to-day described the Foveaux Strait region, after a three-weeks’ visit. Although the sperm whales that once made the strait famous were not much in evidence, fur seals were showing satisfactory powers of survival, in spite of a history of destructive sealing; oceanic birds of many kinds were abundant, and fish life, both of commercial and species, would repay systematic study, said Dr. Falla. Dr. Falla’s visit to Stewart Island, the Solanders, and outlying islets was specifically to investigate the fur seal population, the size of which has caused some concern, after the season of 1940. he said, was a sequel to the survey undertaken last summer, when he visited the rookeries during Ihe breeding season. A general picture of breeding stock had been obtained then, but no , overall survey could be made because of the absence of young non-breeding animals, and it was impossible to estimate the probable rate of survival of young seals. Because the survey was made on behalf of the Marine Department. Dr. Falla preferred not to speak at present of his conclusions on the changing size of the fur seal population or prospects of a fur-sealing industry and the resumption of the open season.