THE SEALING INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1871, 3 October 1913, Page 5

THE SEALING INDUSTRY.

RETURN OF THE SNARES PARTY. The last of the parties who were out in search of 6eals this season haß returned to Bluff. The party was that of Mr. John Bragg, and their efforts have been attended with a little better succo33 than those who returned earlier in the season. The party left Stewart Island in Mr. Thomson's Rakiura for the Snares, some 100 miles to the south on July 3, but did not reach their destination until August 1, on account of heavy weather. They secured 325 skins for soven weeks' sealing. In conversation with an Invercargnll reporter, Mr. Robert Bragg, a member of the party, and an experienced sealer, stated that their efforts had not been attended with the success they had anticipated, but nevertheless the venture would prove a profitable one. About 255. per skin was the price ruling at Home to-day, therefore, valuing the catch at an average of, say, 205., the gross profit would be £300. The expenses of the expedition would run into something over £100, so it would', therefore, be seen that after deducting this amoiint each member would come out with about- £40 to tlio good for the three months' cruise. _ It was clearly, evident, Mr. Bragg said, that tlio industry was ruined as far, at least, as the shores of the Southern Islands were concerned. The animals were not nearly so numerous as was the case in days gone by, when it was not uncommon for three parties, each comprising about six men, to capture 1600 seals in the samp time as it took them to securo this p season's catch. They had'exnected at the least to get 500 or 700 skins. Regarding the. poaching of seals, Mr. Bragg remarked that the finding of a man's waist belt on the by 'one of the party was positive proof that there had someone there, and only recontly, as the leather one, was in fairly good' condition, and the dead dried-up carcasses of seals lying among the rocks on the snores was additional eviidence that the rookeries bad been invaded during the close seasons. Personally he was of tho opinion that the sea lions also had something to do with the scarcity of seals. It was distinctly noticeable that tho male seals were in the majority, being better able to defend themselves against the sea lions, whilst the females were cither killed or hunted away from the rpokerics.

No further development has yet taken place in conncction with tho election of Bishop Averill, of AVaiapu, as Bishop of Auckland. It is necessary before tlio Primate finally confirms the appointment for it to be formally approved by a majority in each order oi tlio bishops, clergy, and laity of the Standing Committees in each diocese. These committees have to be summoned by the respective bishops and a vote taken. Particulars of the voting have then to he returned to tTio Primate, who will thereupon communicate tflie result to the bisdiop 's commissary (Archdeacon Calder). The Auckland "Herald" states that Bishop Averill, whose enthronisation has boen fixed for the beginning of February, will be in Auckland early in December. The Australian kangaroo stamp is to bo given a further lease of life. It was the intention of the Commonwealth Postmaster-General that the new King's head design should be printed from steel plates on one of the Hoe machines by which the Federal notes are produced. but he has been informed that it will be some months yot boforo a machine can be made available. As Mr. AVynne does not care to have the new issue printed from electrotype—a cheaper method—he has decided to continue the kangaroo issue, but at the samo time to print a limited number of the new design.