APPENDIX D 



SKINNING FUR SEALS ABOARD RESEARCH VESSEL, 1964 



In previous years aboard research vessels, seals were skinned by 

 knife. This resulted in nicks and cuts which reduced the quality of skins. 

 To improve quality, the skins were pulled from fur seal carcasses in 

 1964 by use of the vessel's deck winch. This technique was adapted 

 from the stripping method used successfully on the Pribilof Islands. 



To prepare the seal for stripping, it was slit open on the ventral 

 surface from the lower jaw to the anus, the head was skinned out, and a 

 cut was made around each flipper. A plastic tag was affixed to the skin 

 prior to stripping (appendix fig. 9). Appendix figures 10-12 show the 

 various steps in pulling the skin off the animal. The skins were washed 

 and cooled by towing alongside the vessel for a short time, and stacked 

 on deck to drain. At the end of the day, the skins were salted in the hold. 



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