84 Mr. R. Hamilton on the Fur Seal of Commerce* 



thirdly, the proper seal fur of commerce is formed of skins 

 from which the hair is removed by art, leaving the under ex- 

 quisitely soft and downy covering, which forms an article 

 highly prized by all nations. 



In the absence of scientific information respecting the ani- 

 mal yielding this fur, we must turn to our navigators and seal 

 hunters ; and we find that one of the earliest intimations is 

 that already alluded to in Capt. Cook's memorial, which in all 

 probability had reference to this seal. Another early notice 

 concerning this animal is from the pen of Lieut. Clayton, who 

 in the year 1773-4 commanded the English settlement in 

 Saunders Island, one of the Falklands, which he characterizes 

 as a barren, dreary, desolate, boggy, rocky spot. In his paper 

 in the Phil. Trans. 1775, he tells us that four kinds of seals 

 were found there, viz. the common seal, the sea lion, the clap- 

 mutch, and the fur seal, which last, he says, has its name from 

 its coat, which is a fine soft fur ; and it is also thinner-skinned 

 than any of the others : he adds, that from these isles a va- 

 luable fishery might be carried on*. But still more to the 

 point, we have the information derived from the late gallant 

 and enterprising Weddell, who, as is well known, with his 

 little squadron consisting of the Jane of Leith of 160 tons, 

 and the Beaufoy of 65, penetrated in the year 1823 two hun- 

 dred and fourteen miles nearer the South Pole than the cele- 

 brated Cook or any other navigator had previously done. We 

 never heard of this distinguished individual when alive, but 

 happy should we feel could we by any means be the humble 

 instruments of procuring for his services in our own depart- 

 ment the meed of praise they really merit. He was a most 

 successful and extensive seal hunter, and engaged in success- 

 ive voyages with this single object in view ; and, judging from 

 his published workf, he was an accomplished and intelligent 

 as well as a successful mariner. He invariably and without 

 hesitation speaks of the fur seal as one and as distinct from all 

 others of the southern hemisphere, which he contradistin- 

 guishes as hair seals. He encountered the fur seal in South 

 Georgia, among the South Orkneys, and in much greater 



* Phil. Trans., vol.lxvi. p. 102. 



f Voyage towards the South Pole. London, 1825. 



