THE FUR OF THE FUR SEAL. 65 



of coloration. This makes it possible only to say that the older seals are more uniform 

 and darker iu color, while among the younger seals there is more diversity. It seems 

 likely that the lighter colors in the young seals correspond to the brownish bellied 

 black pups. Among the bachelors the colors seem more uniform, though the younger 

 males show again a preponderance of the lighter shades. 



The greatest diversity exists among the bulls. Among the harem masters there 

 are two general types, one almost black, the other reddish-brown. Both styles of 

 coloration are associated with the older animals, but which is the older of the two is 

 not apparent. The younger bulls are, as a rule, gray. 



But these three are only general types. There is the greatest individual varia- 

 tion among the bulls of all classes, and almost any combination of shades or mingling 

 of shades can be found. Much of the individual variation is due to the length of 

 time the animals have been out of the water; in other words, to the influence of 

 exposure. In the water and when wet there is but little difference in the coloration. 

 In rainy weather the animals are all of one shade. 



THE PELAGE. 



The diversity of color in the fur seal is confined chiefly to the outer or water hairs, 

 which project beyond the fur. The fur itself is fairly uniform. In the pups the water 

 hair is glossy black at birth and is replaced in two to three months by hair of gray. 

 In the females the water hair is more or less uniform in length, and the same is true 

 of the males until after the third year. From this time on the hair on the neck of the 

 male becomes longer and coarser, developing with the growth of the bull into stiff 

 bristles, constituting the mane, or "wig," as it is called. 



Beneath this water hair is the short, thick fur of the seal. In the preparation of 

 the seal skins these hairs are carefully removed, leaving only the short, thick fur. It 

 has been asserted that the pup is born without fur, having only the black hair, and 

 that it does not attain its full pelage until the second year. This is not the case. The 

 pup at birth has short fuzzy fur, which grows rapidly, and is of considerable length 

 when the animal begins to swim. By the time it is ready for the sea in the fall its 

 fur differs in length and thickness from that of the older seals only as the size of the 

 animal varies. 



THE STAGY SEASON. 



Between the middle of August and the middle of October the adult animals shed 

 their hair and get a new coat. During this season the skins of the seals are said to 

 be stagy, and they are not taken on land. The fact, however, that one of the most 

 important catches at sea is taken in August and September has led to some confusion. 

 It has been held by those interested that no stagy seals were found at sea, and from 

 this, by inference at least, it has been suggested that these animals are, for some 

 reason, a different class. 



In his report for 189G, the Canadian commissioner, Mr. Andrew Halkett, quotes 

 the statements of a large number of sealers to the effect that they had never known a 

 stagy seal at sea and had seen very few in poor condition as to fur. Mr. Halkett 

 expresses his own opinion as follows : 



I have simply to say that nothing resembling a seal in poor condition, either as to hair or fur, was 

 seen by me, although some 800 passed through my hands. 



