WORTH SEA SEAL AND WHALE FISHERY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 64, 15 March 1878, Page 4

WORTH SEA SEAL AND WHALE FISHERY.

(From the N. Z. Herald.-) The North Sea seal and whale fishery proved very successful during the last season. From Dundee fourteen slaips sailed for the Arctic Seos, and after a few montba's absence, during the early summer, returned with cargoes of oil valued at £144.470, thus averaging more than £10,000 per ship for oil alone. But this does not represent the full value of the cargo the ships brought home. The value of the wholebone and the skins of the tens of thousands of seals caught have to be added, which together make an aggregate nearly equal to the above. It is thus computed that the market value of the cargoes brought home was at least £250,000. This ia certainly profitable trading, when the present value of vessels and plant employed is not more than £150,000. All the vessels were not successful alike. The Arctic is reported to have secured 500 tons of seal oil, valued at £25,000, and 130 tons of whale oil worth at least £11,700, besides having a large guantily of whalebone. The Aurora had oil on board to the value of £27,000, besides a large quantity of sealskins and whalebone. Yet, notwithstanding these enormous returns for the outlay required, the northern fisheries are not in the same repute that they were many years ago. It has been found that when the seals and whales are severely hunted a few years in succession in one place, the animals become afraid and shift their breeding ground, and it sometimes happens that after one of these migrations one or more seasons pass before their retreat is "discovered. In these Beasons the fishing trade is unprofitable; people become disgusted, and give it up. In the following season, perhapp, one or two vessels push their ■way tbrogh the ice to some hitherto unfrequented place and then find what they searched for in vain in the former season — whales and seals in the greatest abundance. These vessels return early in the season with full cargoes, and give an enormous profit to their lucky owners. Next year the noßJority of the vessels push their way through the ice to (he same place, and fare proportionately well. Ou seeing that their retreat had been discovered, the p-r,l« and whales sguin migrate in the course of a few sej'aoiif, and the same course of events is *gt»in repeaird. If, i3 Burpriti- g thai no .ffm bus yet beeu made to turn ifae fini in^» nv<\ sealing grounds to the southward or New Z •«- land to pr< fiinhlw account. There can be no doubt ihat it a vessel were fitted out for this wo ; k, properly appointed, and placed iu charge ot officers and a crew experienced working iu among the ice fields in the seas iu the Northern hemisphere, valuable discoveries would be made, and large aud profitable new sources of trade opened up. It would also tend to raise up amougat us a race of brave and hardy seamen, who might be of the greatest service to New Zealand io times to come. The field is open; there are at present no competitors; with moderate success the profits would be very large ; and there need be no fear that the markets of the world will ever be overstocked with oil, whalebone and sealskins. The preparation of these articles as merchantile commodities would cause various industries on land to spring into existence, thus extending the sphere of employment ia the colony.

The Paris correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald writes as follows :— The Following curious anecdote is given in a book recently published by that very fervent Catholic the Marquis de Segur : — "Monsigneur Bastide," says the Marquis, introduced me to Mdlie Arnele'd Leautard, a pious young lady of Marssi.les. That admirable lady, shortly afterwards, having gone to Bome waa retained there by a superior and divine interest. In 1566 she was inspired to crown her life by a supreme and heroic sacrifice. Pius IX. was seriously ill. Mdlle Leautard resolved to offer herself as a victim to God in place of his Vicar, but fearing that it might be an act of presumption, she wished to obtain authorisation from the Pope himself. When she bad communicated to the latter her desire, Pius IX. remained for some time silent and thoughtful. At length, as though obeying a secret voice, he placed his hand on the head of the Christian heroine, and said ' Go, my daughter, and do what the Holy Spirit has suggested to you !' The next day Mdlle. Leautard was present, according to custom, nt the first mass at St. Peter's. She re- \ ceived the communion, and when she 1 had received in her heart the Victim of Love, she offered her life for the Pope to Him who gave his for the human race. Her desire was scarcely expressed, when she was seized with a terrible and sudJeu pain, und fell t> thtground with a ay. A meuiral man was sent for, but he declared that his science was powerleSß against such an inexplicable malady. Three days afterwards she expired. The news of this miracuhus death was conveyed to the Vaticun. Pius IX. received it without expressing any surprise, but raising his eyes to heaveoj murmured with emotion * Cost tosto accettalo!" (So soon accepted.) The Marquis, in commenting on this story, seems thoroughly convinced that the sacrifice of Mdlle. Leautard explains the long life of the Pope. The young lady had previously received from the Emperor Napoleon 111. the Cross of the Legion of Honor for her acts of benevolence, -_