Who actually clubbed baby seals in Newfoundland? . An internet search reveals many quotes (most of them satirical) referring to seal clubbing. Also strident reminders by Canaidans denying seal clubbing, or at worst -blaming the practice on ignorant “Newfies”.
I know seals are hunted for a variety of reasons in the far north - that isn’t my doubt. I am just wondering if there were ever roving bands of men with clubs whacking baby seals.
You talkin’ to me? Are you talkin’ to ME?
Roving bands?
Clubbing them affords a better chance of a pelt unsullied by blood.
Mainly fishermen during the off season.
So, a baby harp seal walks into a bar. The bartender says, “What can I get you?” And the seal says, “Anything but Canadian Club.”
Uhh…my apologies.
The club scene isn’t too hot in Newfoundland. Most of the beautiful seals make their way to Toronto. Unfortunatly, small town seals often have trouble adjusting to life in the big city. Sure the clubbing and all night parties are fun, but it often leads to a downward spiral of drug abuse and even seal prostitution.
I’m gonna give you some pages on environmentalist’s sites:
An introduction to Greenpeace’s campaign
This page has videos substantiating the clubbing of seals. WARNING: This is bloody footage, involving animal slaughter. I’m not posting it for voyeuristic purposes; I’m posting it because i think it provides the proof the OP asks for.
Daniel
I seem to remember it was a National Geographic story (with photo on cover). Very big story a few decades ago. The perps insisted it was a swift and humane way to go sealing.
For what it’s worth, the Canadian codes of practice for swine agriculture recommend that, should a young animal need to be put down (e.g. a runt that won’t live anyway), the recommended humane method is a swift blow to the head with a blunt object. The rationale, iirc, is that the skull bones are still unformed and relatively soft, so this is a relatively easy way to assure rapid unconciousness. Now, obviously, a seal is not a pig, and I’m sure there is footage out there of unfortunate misses where several blows are necessary. But I’m willing to believe that on average, clubbing is a reasonable compromise between humaneness and practicality…
Thank you, I may stop short of actually seeing the full videos though. I just was thinking how “seal clubbing” became a byname for reckless disregard of the environment - just as “tree hugging” has for extreme enviromentalism. Living in the Ass End of West Damn Texas (the new official name of my community), I know nothing about seals, their hunting, or the baby seal pelt business.
That’ a matter for great debates. I happen to think that not killing seals for decorative fur is a reasonable compromise, myself, but I won’t go into my reasons except in GD.
Daniel
For what it’s worth, when I was 16 and impressionable and working with Earth First! out in California, people took their tree-hugging very seriously. It’s not just a stereotype :D.
(In my own defense, although I tried it, I never got the point of it. Giant trees are majestic and beautiful and all, but cuddly they ain’t.)
Daniel
What goes on with tree hugging anyway? I mean who pays? And after three or four hugs, do you move on to a committed relationship. Or do you just hop from tree to tree, fondling as many cones as you can find - hoping your tree doesn’t catch the scent of another bush?
Sorry to hijack…well it is my thread, and where I live - there really aren’t many hugworthy trees either.
Yeah, you gotta stay away from those tree relationships. Love 'em and leaf 'em, that’s all they do.
Daniel
deeply, deeply sorry
They’re not so bad; their bark is worse than their bite. Why, I once dated a tree who ran a branch office, but she lived a fir piece away, so we split up. I still pine for her.
Next . . . the larch.
OK, OK, I’m stopping.
RR
All the young seals go to Toronto? Where where???
What’s strange is that, although I’ve heard of all this clubbing going on, I have never seen any “seal fur” being sold in my life. I’ve seen mink, beaver and bear (my mother works as a fashion designer for fur and leather clothing) but never seen anything made of baby seals…people don’t eat seals do they?
Yeds badmana, they do eat seals. I was once given a can of seal meat from the Magdalen Islands in the Gulf of St-Lawrence (this was in the late 60s, before all the brouhaha about the seal hunt). IIRC the taste was salty and not unlike fish, but the texture looked more like beef. I know that they also tried in the 90s to develop a seal meat industry, but it didn’t seem to take off.
From Japan: Seal Curry
http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/waiwai/0210/021001seal.html
Even the company’s spokesman says “To be frankly honest, it tastes bloody awful.”
Yeah, but at least you get wood.
ouch! Who threw that?
But it’s **my **username. I’m willing to share.