Figure B-11. — Sealskins being unloaded from vessel. 



Figure B-12. — Salted skins being folded and placed in 

 burlap bags. 



cover the skins with salt until the blubber can 

 be removed, or obtain a substitute sample if 

 the above conditions are not satisfied. 



4. Cure skin in salt for two 7-day periods, 

 using fresh salt for each period. Lay skin flat, 

 fur side down, to cure. Make certain there are 

 no rolled edges that are not salted. 



5. Rub with a mixture of 10 percent pow- 

 dered boric acid and 90 percent salt, roll 

 tightly, and pack in wooden barrels, or other 

 noncorrodible, watertight container. 



6. Keep skins cool during shipping and 

 storage; refrigerate between 0° and 5° C, if 

 possible. 



All deviations from the above instructions 

 on preliminary processing of sealskins were 

 to be recorded, along with the date and locality 

 of capture, sex, age, length, and weight of each 

 animal. 



Figure B-13. — Bundles of sealskins being prepared for 

 shipment to processing plant. 



Sealskins collected by Japan for researchon 

 skin quality deviated from the above methods 

 owing to conditions aboard the vessel and the 

 lack of storage facilities on land. These devia- 

 tions, although not actually observed, were as 

 follows: 



Steps 1 and 2 to be followed as in the in- 

 structions. 



Step 3. All skins to be salted, and the vessel 

 to return to port (Akahama-Ozuchi) each day 

 to flesh skins because of lack of space aboard 

 the vessel. 



Step 4. Skins to be salted aboard the vessel 

 during the first 7-day period. Skins to be salted 

 in barrels (skins laid out flat) and shipped to 

 processing plant in Tokyo during the second 

 7-day period. 



Steps 5 and 6 will be handled by the proc- 

 essing firm in Tokyo because refrigeration is 

 not available during shipping and storage. 



Laboratory Examinations 



In the laboratory stomachs, teeth, and geni- 

 tal tracts were examined. 



Stomachs .- -Each fur seal stomach was pre- 

 served in 10 percent formalin aboard the ves- 

 sel. The stomachs are soaked overnight in 

 fresh water when examining stomachs at the 

 laboratory. The stomach is then cut open, and 

 the contents are identified and separated by 

 species whenever possible. The volume of each 

 species is measured by water displacement. 



Teeth.- -Snouts containing both upper canine 

 teeth are cooked at the laboratory by one of the 

 biological aids. The teeth are pulled, cleaned, 



38 



