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70 - DECKS AWASH
we have sea l furs in HongKong that will reach the
high fashion market by Christmas.
" These furs came from seals taken along the
northeast coast of Newfoundland, deblubbered by
hand as in the old days and packed in 100per cent
brine . Some beautiful designs have been made up
in Hong Kong and we're looking forward to other
markets in the Far East. Wehave seal furs in Taiwan,
Egypt and Oshawa. Ontario, and things look
very promising for the seal industry .
"There is a potential throughout Canada for seal
fur . Allof us are looking forward to the day when
we can walk into a fashion store in Newfoundland
and purchase a sealskin fur coat that we can wear
with pride and dignity . We look forward to those
days despite the ever-widening attacks on the fur
industry , Despite this unfortunate situation, fur
sales in Canada have increased over 15per cent
in the last three years, and the increase has been
twice to three times that much in the United States
and the Far East. This indicates a very positive
trend towards increased markets for Canadian
furs.
" The furs shown here tonight were harvested
in Newfoundland, designed and supplied by A.J .
Herscovici in Montreal , and manufactured in cooperation
with the Canadian sealers Association .
I would also like to acknowledge the co-operation
of both the federal and provincial governments
and our fishermen's union in their endeavors tc
revitalize the seal fishery in Canada. "
The Association has recently had a very encouraging
meeting with the provincial government
and the fisheries minister, Tom Rideout.
"I'm pleased to be here at this fur show,
especially since I represent the district of Baie
Verte-WhiteBay in the Houseof Assembly," commented
Tom Rideout. "The Canadian sealers
Association was born in my district, and I was
very happy to be there at the moment of its conception
and to work along with them since. I would
hope that many of you in the audience will be able
to make a decision on what you will buy before the
evening is over.
"The negative publicity of the last three years
has not slowed down the initiatives of ourselves,
the federal government nor the Canadian sealers
Association . We are very optimistic about the
future of the industry as a result of recent studies .
There is a potential market for seal leather, furs
and handicrafts and attitudes are beginning to
change in Europe, especially in Germany. We
firmly believe that markets will return, but it will
require effort and it won't happen overnight. We
are supporting the in-province development of
technical and marketing expertise, which are vital
in the future . We look forward to the time when
the sealing industry returns to its righUul place
as an integral part of Newfoundland's fishing industry."
"The fashions you see are an indication of what
can be done with the fur from a seal pelt," Shirley
Newhookcommented as she provided a commentary
on the show, which featured jackets and coats
for both men and women. The designs shown
displayed the versality and practicality ofseal fur
and should do well in world markets.
" I've always been excited around seals ," Mark
Small concluded, after the show. " My brother Arnold
and I have spent many exciting times out on
the ice and it's something that 's deep down in our
blood and not easy to give up. I'm pleased to see
the interest in the sealing industry and recommend
that everyone has a copy of the book Seal
Wars, written by an American lady , Janice Scott
Henke, who has defended the seal hunt for many
years and written an excellent balanced account
of it."
We leave her the last wordr -
It may fairly be said that good people,
feeling someguilt for the powerful impact
of their burgeoning civilization,
neve transferred their sins to those who
deserve blame the least. Urban man
has been the farthest removed from nature,
and has romanticized it the
most.. .. Our myths about superior intelligence
and "sensitivity" in seals,
whales , sea lions and dolphins ha ve all
sprung from that blurred visual handicap
which is the heritageof blind love,
Thousands of good people have been
victimized by the seal wars in the sense
that they have been given less than edequate
and sometimes completely incorrect
information with which to make a
decision on how to feel in this mstter
..,The organizations within the protest
movement ha ve always been
careful to make light of any detrimental
effect which their actions might have
on the Jives of native people and ordinary
lishermen...Inuit of Canada and
Greenland. who have always depended
on seals for food and income, find their
destinies manipulated from thousands
of miles away by those who care little
for their miserable poverty and new
economic confusion. Newfoundlanders
and otherlUaritimers who havehunted
seals for four hundredyears cannot understand
why outsiders hate them so,
and why they refuse lobe1ieve that seals
are as important to them as the fish ,
which are the staff of life .
My hope is that a greater amount of
information... shall stimulate constructive
thought and begin a process of reevaluation
of our place in a wortd where
predation is stiJJ a natural element.
- Excerpt from Seal Wars by Janice SCottHenke,
Breakwater Books Ltd., St. John 's , NF . 1985. Used
with permission