Gasket sealant

When working on cars in my teenage years (yes, we had cars then) we
generally used gasket sealant on everything except the valve cover
gaskets. I noticed on the MG oil pan that the pan gasket and front and
rear pan gaskets (usually refered to as front and rear sump seals) had
no sealant. I also noticed there was oil underneath the front and rear
seals. Should sealant be used or not.

Bill Mantz
Roanoke, Va
1971 Midget
1959 Bugeye