THE PAN-AMERICAN EXPOSITION. 301 
probably be extended. Alligator leather is familiar to all, but the 
seal, walrus, and sea-lion skins furnish particularly fine leathers which 
are susceptible of being worked to a high degree of pliability, dyed 
in a great variety of colors, and, like alligator leather and the skins of 
some water snakes, are used for making bags, purses, cases, pocket- 
books, belts, picture frames, etc. A number of samples of these 
leathers were shown and included the skins as they appear when first 
tanned and the leathers dressed and dyed for different purposes. The 
skins of several species of rays and of the dog-fish, gar pike, whale, 
manatee, and beaver were exhibited. The former are used by the 
Japanese for covering sword hilts and for other ornamental purposes, 
and, as well as the others, to some extent in this country in manufac- 
turing picture frames, fancy articles, and other special purposes, 
though more coarse, brittle, and harder to work than the leathers first 
mentioned. 
The fisheries supply valuable articles of wearing apparel in the form 
of furs, which were shown in their natural state and ** plucked and 
dyed” ready for manufacture. 
Large numbers of fur-seal skins are still obtained annually from the 
seal fisheries controlled by the United States on the Pribilof Islands 
in Alaska. These are considered the best and are commercially known 
as Alaska seal. Nearly all seal skins are dressed and dyed in Europe 
and returned to this country in a finished state ready to be made into 
garments. The sea otter found in Alaska furnishes the most valuable 
fur and is comparatively rare. It is used mainly as a trimming for 
coats and garments, and, as it has naturally a peculiar delicate silvery 
appearance, it is not dyed. Other fur-bearing aquatic animals taken 
in various parts of the United States, the furs of which are used, are 
fresh-water otter, beaver, and muskrat, an enormous number of the 
skins of the latter being taken annually. A coarse fur, from which are 
manufactured robes, cheap gloves, etc., is obtained from the common 
hair seal found along the Atlantic coast. 
The vessel fisheries of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and the Gulf 
of Mexico were illustrated by models of modern types of fishing ves- 
sels, particular attention being paid to those engaged in the Grand 
Bank cod fishing, the mackerel fishery, and the fresh-market fishery of 
Gloucester and Boston, Mass. The various types of pound nets, seines, 
trawls, hand lines, ete., used in the commercial fisheries were illus- 
trated by models and by full-sized specimens where space permitted, 
together with dredges, tongs, and other articles used for taking oysters, 
scallops, clams, turtles, and sponges. There was also displayed a com- 
plete outfit of tackle and accessories used by anglers for sea fishing, 
bait fishing, trolling, fly fishing for trout, and salmon fishing, embracing 
hundreds of full-sized articles handsomely mounted. 
One of the most interesting exhibits consisted of a collection of the 
various types of swivel guns, shoulder guns, rocket guns, harpoons, 
