SEALS INCREASE.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2693, 11 July 1923, Page 4

SEALS INCREASE.

PROFITABLE INDUSTRY MAY REVIVE. (From Our Parliamentary WELLINGTON, July 10. According to a statement made in tlie Legislative Council to-day, seals are rapidly increasing in numbers in the vicinity of New Zealand. Sir Francis Loll said that after the war the present Government insisted on the reiusal of all permits to kill seals. The result has been extraordinary, and the number o.f fur seals had increased amazingly. The Campbell Islands had been leased for pastoral purposes, and there were some inhabitants there looking- after sheep. There were no inhabitants of the Aucklands, and none in the Antipodes. Representations were made to the Government that Norwegians and other roamers of the seas were sailing in these parts, and that the seals were being slaughtered. An arrangement was come to whereby the iessco Of Campbell Island and his men were appointed custodians of th J sealing grounds, in return for which they were allowed 400 bull seals per year. The. arrangement had been an excellent one, and the seals were increasing at a great rate. Sir Francis believed the day was fast coming when the fur sealing industry in New Zealand would be very valuable. Ho was sorry to say there had been practically no return of the seals to tho West Coast Sounds, but he believed thai would come. A great deal had been done since the unfortunate mistake of ten years ago of letting tho seals be destroyed.