A Short Investigation into the Habits, Abundance, and Species of Seals on the North Cornwall Coast

Abstract

1. In the course of three trips to the herring grounds in the vicinity of St. Ives five seals were sighted. Seven others were also seen at various other times and places in the course of five days spent in that locality.2. During a single night at sea in Port Isaac Bay eight seals were sighted.3. It was obvious from the movements of certain of the seals observed on the fishing grounds that they were attracted to the herring nets.4. Direct evidence that the seals actually remove fish from the nets was not obtained.5. Damage done to drift nets by seals is negligible.6. Grey Seals (Halichœrus grypus) are present in considerable numbers, and are probably the commonest seals in Cornish waters.7. Brown Seals (Phoca vitulina) appear to be few—they may even be rare—around Cornwall.8. There is at least one seal colony of considerable size in certain caves near Boscastle. This appears to consist of Grey Seals. Probably other such colonies exist on the Cornish coast.9. Clupeoid remains have been found in two out of the three Grey Seal stomachs which have been examined.10. Further and more exact knowledge of the habits and relative abundance of Grey and Brown Seals around the Cornish coast is desirable.