FUR-SEAL SERVICE. 91 



coated with grcnsc from previous contact with sidns; the smaller 

 particles have been dissolved for the same reason, leaving only the 

 lar<i:or grains, which dissolve less readily. Tliese, and perhaps all 

 other elements, operate to change or vary the percentage of loss of 

 weight from sealskins through salting. That these skins almost 

 invariably do show a loss of weiglit through the action of salt on them 

 is remarkable in view of the many factors which operate to influence 

 the weight. 



If a test must be applied by which the work of killing seals on the 

 islands is to be checked, that test should be by weigliing the skins as 

 heretofore, and not by measuring tlie skins, as has been suggested. 

 The test of weight can be applied immediately after the animal has 

 been killed and skinned, and thereby a close connection can be kept 

 in the minds of the workmen between the size of the animals taken 

 and the weights of their skins. On the other hand, it has been shown 

 that no test of the size of the skins which is worthy of consideration can 

 be taken until at least five days after the animals have been driven, 

 slaughtered, and skinned. If the killing gang must wait five days 

 before knowing whether the seals taken on any date are taken con- 

 formably to regulations, or the contrary, it is submitted that the 

 information, when finally obtained, will lose much of its value. 



These tests are useful, not so much in instructing the sealers as to 

 their duties, but in convincing others that the work of the sealers is 

 in conformity with regulations. Assume, for example, that the 

 regulations prescribe the killing of 2-year-olds only. It is obvious 

 that whatever test is prescribed, whether by the weight or size of 

 skins, can not be applied until after the animal has been killed and 

 skinned, when it is too late to rectify any mistakes %vith regard to 

 their taking. The clubber must first kill tlie seals before he can 

 either weigh or measure their skins, and in selecting them for killing 

 he must depend solely upon his judgment and his experience. He 

 must be able to teU accurately the ages of the seals coming before 

 liim, and he must, in advance of weighing, guess the weight of a skin 

 on a live seal to within a few ounces. So far as is known, there is no 

 method wliereby to determine mathematically the age of a seal, or 

 the size and weight of its skin previous to the death of the animal. 

 Any method, therefore, can not be an aid to the seal killer except in 

 so far as he may by it be able to verify the accuracy of his work after 

 it has been done. 



The various weiglits and measurements of seals and sealskins taken 

 during the summer are appended. 



