THE SEAL POACHERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19762, 8 October 1927, Page 10

THE SEAL POACHERS.

DEPREDATIONS IN SOUTH. SEVERE PENALTIES PROMISED. AN OPEN SEASON UNWISE. [by telegraph.—special reporter.] WELLINGTON. Friday. A definite declaration that the restrictions on the taking of seals in Southern waters would not be removed until ifc was thought proper to do so was made by the Minister of Marine, Hon. G. J. Anderson, in the Hcrase this afternoon. Mr. J. E. Hamilton (Awarua), said a great deal of poaciiing was going on and those interested who wished to act legitimately in regard to the taking of seals desired that the close season should be ended. The Minister said he had consistently refused to grant any permits for the killing and taking of seals. He was guided by those with expert knowledge who said that if the restrictions were removed the seals would be quickly exterminated. Captain J. Bollons, of the Tutanekai, who had much experience in the Southern waters and great knowledge of the habits of seals, was of the opinion that it would be very unwise to declare an open season. The difficulty was to control the region but as far as possible the seals would be preserved. Some years ago a foreign vessel went to oao island and took 20,000 seals and since that time the island had been mora or less deserted by the animals. The herds of seals were now increasing in the Southern waters but the restriction would not be removed until the department's expert ' advisers thought proper. In the meantime anybody found taking seals or with skins in his possession would be severely dealt with.