History of seal skin sporrans

[Heming]

I believe seal fur is only marketable from the pups in their first few days of life so the supply was bound to be extremely small from small, widely separated areas.

This is a common misconception. Sealing is still legal in Norway, and sealskins are commonly available as rugs or wall decorations as well as worked into shoes, garments, purses etc. I've never seen a baby-seal skin nor a product made from baby seal. White cubs (very young seals) are illegal to hunt or kill (as are adult seals during mating and birthing season). The grey, black-spotted sealskins used for sporrans are from adult seals.

And as a side note, the seal isn't hunted just for skin, but also for food (the meat is supposedly delicious), and the bones are used for buttons, jewellery etc.

[JSFMACLJR]

I've never seen a baby-seal skin nor a product made from baby seal.

While I pledged to myself to refrain from posting too many photos that might be objectionable to some, I am posting this pic of one of my sporrans to show that even seal cubs were used for sporrans. The fur is longer and finer, with a beautiful colour.

This sporran is OLD, very old. The seal was harvested long before seal hunting was an issue, and has been in my family for at least 80 years. I rarely wear it now, mostly because my brother is "borrowing" it.

[Peter C.]

The seal population around the UK is small and is enjoyed by tourists with trips out to the islands where they live. If seal hunting were legal they could be wiped out in a few seasons, which would be a shame as they are not needed for food or clothing.

Canada and Norway have a good population of seals and most countries with good populations of wild animals usually allow them to be hunted.

I am fairly sure that seal skin for sporrans came from Canada, whether they were hunted by Scottish or Canadian hunters doesn't make much difference.

I don't really understand why they are being banned in the UK if the Canadians are still hunting their seals and making their skins available as a sustainable product.

Peter

[The Guy in the Kilt at UC]

The seal population around the UK is small and is enjoyed by tourists with trips out to the islands where they live. If seal hunting were legal they could be wiped out in a few seasons, which would be a shame as they are not needed for food or clothing.

Canada and Norway have a good population of seals and most countries with good populations of wild animals usually allow them to be hunted.

I am fairly sure that seal skin for sporrans came from Canada, whether they were hunted by Scottish or Canadian hunters doesn't make much difference.

I don't really understand why they are being banned in the UK if the Canadians are still hunting their seals and making their skins available as a sustainable product.

Peter

So it's a sustainability issue then?

[Fit2BKilted]

So it's a sustainability issue then?

As I set out earlier, I don't believe that is why seal products have been banned... Seals are not endangered species, and the hunt has been well managed for over 30 years. IMHO the reason has a LOT more to do with political pandering to lobby groups than any sort of conservation.

[Peter C.]

So it's a sustainability issue then?

No it's not a sustainability issue, it's about seals being a staple food in Northern Canada. I'm sure the Canadians are managing them so that they are sustainable and if they are being killed for food it makes sense to use the skins, as it makes sense to use pigskin and cowhide from slaughtered animals.

Peter