Canadian seal hunters bemoan low prices

ST. JOHN'S, Newfoundland, April 7 (UPI) -- Some Canadian seal hunters in Newfoundland say they aren't sure low pelt prices and high gas costs make going to sea worthwhile later this month.

While hunting resumed Monday off New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, the upcoming hunt along Newfoundland's northeastern shore isn't as appealing to seasonal fishermen, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported.

Fisherman Jim King told the broadcaster buyers are offering $35 per pelt this year, about half of previous years' prices

"It looks like they're (buyers) going to drop the price this year to subsidize the poor quality of pelts that were landed in the last couple years, at too high a price," he said. "So it looks like this is payback."

Further south, a hunt that opened a week ago Sunday was stopped when the Department Fisheries and Oceans claimed the quota of 1,300 seals had been killed, but it later determined 1,000 had been taken. The hunt was allowed to resume Monday for the balance of 300, the CBC said.