A history of sealing in the Falkland Islands and Dependencies, 1764-1972
Seven species of seals were hunted in the Falkland Islands and Dependencies in the 18th to 20th centuries. Sealing probably began in the Falkland Islands in 1766 after French settlers arrived in 1764. The potential of an industry was not realized until American whalers arrived by 1774. Continued sealing was prevented by the War of Independence, except for an unsuccessful American attempt to establish a wartime fleet at the islands, shipping oil to London. Postwar economic depression prevented Americans returning, sealing instead being done by British southern whale fishery vessels from 1786. Oil was taken from hair seals, and skins from fur seals. Both were shipped to London. Americans returned by 1792 for fur seal skins for the expanding Canton fur trade. This they subsequently monopolized, British merchants being constrained by the East India Company's trading monopoly. Unregulated killing to supply Canton and London markets virtually exterminated fur seals on the Falkland Islands and South Georgia by the late 18th-early 19th centuries. Increased oil demand in America caused elephant seals to be depleted by the mid 19th century. Discovery of the South Shetland, South Orkney Islands and South Sandwich Islands
Dickinson, Anthony Bertram
Sealing in the Falklands
A history of sealing in the Falkland Islands and Dependencies, 1764-1972. Seven species of seals were hunted in the Falkland Islands and Dependencies in the 18th to 20th centuries. Sealing probably began in the Falkland Islands in 1766 after French settlers arrived in 1764. The potential of an industry was not realized until American whalers arrived by 1774. Continued sealing was prevented by the War of Independence, except for an unsuccessful American attempt to establish a wartime fleet at the islands, shipping oil to London. Postwar economic depression prevented Americans returning, sealing instead being done by British southern whale fishery vessels from 1786. Oil was taken from hair seals, and skins from fur seals. Both were shipped to London. Americans returned by 1792 for fur seal skins for the expanding Canton fur trade. This they subsequently monopolized, British merchants being constrained by the East India Company's trading monopoly. Unregulated killing to supply Canton and London markets virtually exterminated fur seals on the Falkland Islands and South Georgia by the late 18th-early 19th centuries. Increased oil demand in America caused elephant seals to be depleted by the mid 19th century. Discovery of the South Shetland, South Orkney Islands and South Sandwich Islands
history seal islands specie seal hunt islands sealing probably begin islands french settler arrive potential industry realize american arrive continued seal war_independence except unsuccessful american attempt_establish wartime fleet island ship oil london postwar economic_depression prevent americans return seal instead british southern whale fishery vessels oil take hair seal skin fur seal ship london americans return fur seal skin expand fur trade subsequently british_merchant constrain east_india_company trading monopoly kill supply london market virtually fur seal islands south georgia increased oil demand america cause elephant seal discovery south shetland south orkney islands south islands