Sealing In the contact period

Cook Cook noted the presence of fur sealsCook noted the presence of fur seals on the New Zealand coast in on the New Zealand coast in Seals were used for oil, meat and to repair ship’s rigging.Seals were used for oil, meat and to repair ship’s rigging.

1792 a sealing party of 12 men were set to work in Dusky Sound and collected 4500 skins for the Chinese market.

This extractive industry was called a ‘robber industry’. Seals were clubbed on the top of the head, skinned and the skins set to dry.

Many sealers were ex convicts. They lived in rough huts or overturned boats. They ate seal meat, fish and eggs because gardening was almost impossible. Many sealers were befriended by Maori from Ngai Tahu and Ngati Mamoe, others were attacked by them. A Sealer’s Hut

It was cheaper for businessmen to set up a sealing enterprise than a whaling one. Sealers were paid by a share of the profits. In 1806 the Favourite carried 60,000 skins. Copyright 2007:

Simeon Lord exported 200,000 skins between Sealing was depleted by the 1820s.

After 1820 sealers lived semi-permanently in European-Maori communities and sold skins to Sydney ships. Between about 100 sealers lived around Foveaux Strait Copyright 2007:

Sealing was dominated by Australians. Sealers did not endeavour to change the Maori lifestyle although several intermarried with Maori to gain comfort and protection.

Fur seals were officially protected in 1894.

Summary Unlike the missionaries and other settlers, the whalers and sealers did not attempt to change Maori. Rather, Maori were exposed to a new culture. Some Maori joined with the whalers and sealers to exploit the natural resources Seals have become an important tourist attraction for New Zealand