836 EEPOflT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 

 LEATHER FROM SEA-LION SKINS. 



Sea-lion hide was formerly considered unfit for tanning purposes, 

 owing to its thickness and coarse texture, consequently the hunters 

 taking these animals for oil-rendering rarely saved the skins; but at 

 the present time the hide is worth as much as the oil. When properly 

 tanned the skins of the young animals make a soft, velvet}^ leather, 

 quite popular for fancy articles. The thick hides of the old animals 

 are used to a limited extent as a substitute for walrus hide in polishing 

 wheels for metal-workers. It is much like bull-neck leather, and, 

 although inferior to walrus polishing wheels, is prizTed by silversmiths 

 for small work. The hides suitable for polishing purposes are one- 

 fourth to one-half inch thick, weigh 30 to 40 pounds when tanned, 

 and are worth about 30 to 40 cents per pound wholesale. The poor or 

 cheap hides are used to some extent as glue stock. 



In preparing the skins of sea-lions for covering the Eskimo kaiaks 

 or bidarkas, the green hides, as soon as removed from the animals, are 

 closely rolled together and permitted to "sweat" until the hair 

 becomes loosened, when it is readily removed by scraping with blunt 

 knives or stone flensers. When ti^'i haired, the moist skins are deftly 

 sewed together in suitable patter' 'i*- and stretched, flesh side out, over 

 the boat frames, the entire structure being covered, with the exception 

 of a circular hole or holes in the top. This boat is perfectl}^ water- 

 tight and substantial, and, although weighing usually less than 100 

 pounds, will carry several hundred p'^ ds of goods in addition to the 

 crew. Because of the softening inauonce of the water, after each 

 day's use the boat must be hauled up out of the water, turned bottom 

 side up and air-dried during the night. Protected in this manner and 

 oiled occasionally, it lasts man}^ seasons. Sea-lion skins are also used 

 to some extent for covering the bidarrahs, which difi'er from the 

 bidarkas in that the}^ are much larger and more substantial. Usually, 

 however, walrus hides are used for that purpose. 



The natives make various other uses of sea-lion skins, such as tent 

 coverings, harness for the sledge dogs and reindeer, and, in case of 

 very young animals, even for clothing. When used for these purposes 

 the hides are sweated, as when used for covering the bidarkas, then 

 stretched for about ten days to cure, when they are taken down, 

 rubbed between the hands to render them pliable, then cut into suita- 

 ble size for use as may be desired. 



In the fisheries of the southern seas, sea-lion hides were sometimes 

 saved and brought to port. In curing them for this purpose they 

 were removed from the animal with half an inch of blubber adhermg. 

 After washing and while yet wet they were plentifully sprinkled with 

 salt rubbed well into the fat, particularly around the edges and neck 

 folds, and then packed in tiers in the ship's hold. 



Sea-lion skins for fancy leather are tanned in precisely the same 



