Sealskin ban in Scotland?

**McClef** · 26th July 08, 12:41 PM

The pictures we get shown are usually of a baby seal with its all white fur about to be clubbed. Naturally such images are designed to create a maximum revulsion.

I personally have never seen a seal fur sporran made from a baby seal, they have all had the adult spot markings.

I personally won't eat veal because of how it is produced, but I will happily tuck into a steak.

Perhaps there is a need to differentiate the difference between infant and adult seal products.

**ccga3359** · 26th July 08, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by McClef

Perhaps there is a need to differentiate the difference between infant and adult seal products.

Unfortunately there is no distinction. Hunting whitecoats was banned in Canada in 1987, seals cannot be taken until they start moulting which is between 12 and 15 days old. It would seem that so many "protesters" found other things to hold their interests when baby seals were no longer photogenic! As in everything it's buyer beware, seal products aren't necessarily of adult origin.

**Makeitstop** · 26th July 08, 08:43 PM

I'm not a big fan of tradition, but I'll side with it over this. So long as seals aren't going extinct, I have no problem with hunting and skinning them. And as far as I'm concerned, if you're killing them, it doesn't really matter if it's slow and painful, or quick, and painless. They die either way. I mean, if you give them a last request, a lobster dinner, a blindfold and a cigarette, it's still just as cruel when you do them in, isn't it?

Of course, it doesn't really affect me, as I don't wear sporrans and I'm already subject to an existing ban.

**pdcorlis** · 26th July 08, 08:54 PM

It matters to me if any creature suffers unnecessarily - but then I suspect we are waltzing up to the edge of allowable discourse here.

**Fedgunner** · 26th July 08, 08:57 PM

Originally Posted by ccga3359

Unfortunately there is no distinction. Hunting whitecoats was banned in Canada in 1987, seals cannot be taken until they start moulting which is between 12 and 15 days old. It would seem that so many "protesters" found other things to hold their interests when baby seals were no longer photogenic! As in everything it's buyer beware, seal products aren't necessarily of adult origin.

One of my favorite jokes is a threat to get a white rabbit sporran and to tell one and all that it is "baby harp seal".