Although the initial purpose of the commercial seal hunt was to obtain oil, other products ensured that the hunt remained economically viable.

arkets for seal oil declined as the twentieth century progressed, but these losses were offset by the export of pelts to tanneries in Canada, Europe and the United States, where they were made into shoes and fine leather products such as purses.

In the late 1920s, markets developed for seal fur as well, and these steadily grew in significance. New processes for treating the fur made it shed-resistant, so it could be used to make coats and fashion accessories such as hats, belts and muffs.

Flippers had traditionally been valued as food. Modern canning made seal meat available for mass consumption. Recently, seal oil has been produced in capsule form as a food supplement.