84 NOTES ON THE KURIL ISLANDS. 



A full-grown male, or " bull," as he is called, six or seven years old, measures 

 nearly 7 feet in length, aad weighs about 400 lbs. Some of the older ones at 

 the beginning of the season, when they are exceedingly fat, will probably weigh 

 25 per cent, more than this. A full-grown female, or " cow," measures about 4^ 

 feet in length, and averages about 85 lbs, in weight. 



The cry of the female fur seal and the young ones is very much like that of the 

 sheep. Sea-sheep would be a much more appropriate name for this animal than 

 sea-bear. They herd together like sheep, can be driven like sheep, and bleat like 

 sheep. They have little or nothing in common with the bear. 



The flesh of the fur seal is very palatable when properly cooked. It must, 

 however, be divested of every particle of fat, which is strong and rank. According 

 to the Japanese, the flesh contains strong aphrodisiac qualities. In flavour it is not 

 unlike venison. One of the Japanese names for the deer or venison is yama ottosei 

 (mountain fur seal). The liver, heart, and tongue are quite equal to those of the 

 sheep in flavour. 



Pelagic sealing is now carried on off the coasts of Japan in the spring by four or 

 five vessels, each one of which makes a catch of from 1200 to 2000 seals. The 

 hunting-grounds are from 25 to 150 miles off shore. " •- 



Could the sea-lion be put to some profitable use, there is abundant material on 

 the Kuril Islands, which contain probably some of the largest sea-lion rookeries in 

 the world. On the eighteen breeding rookeries, at least a hundred thousand of 

 these animals haul up every season. The habits of the sea-lion and fur seal are 

 almost identical. The female produces one at a birth, which is born in June. 

 She goes with young nearly twelve months. The old bulls have each a harem 

 of from six to ten females. The younger bulls are driven off, and much fighting 

 goes on between the bulls over the females. The sea-lion pups take to the water 

 much earlier than the fur seal pups. A full-grown bull, at the commencement of 

 the breeding season, will weigh from 1200 to 1500 lbs., and a full-grown cow 

 nearly half as much. The bull will measure from 10 to 11 feet in length, \vith 

 a girth of 8 or 9 feet around the shoulders. 



The skin of the sea-lion makes but poor leather. For his size he yields but 

 little oil, his blubber being of a very gristly nature. The long whiskers of the 

 male, which measure from 20 to 22 inches in length, are much appreciated 

 by the Chinese, who also use the gall, testes, and bone of the penis for 

 medicinal purposes. The large canine teeth, some of which are nearly 4 inches 

 in length, and of the consistency of ivory, are sometimes carved by the Japanese 

 into nelsuki. 



The flesh of the sea-lion is particularly good eating. Even the fat is not dis- 

 agreeable in flavour, like that of the fur seal and hair seal. The meat, though 

 coarse in grain, is tender, juicy, and easily digested. It makes a capital soup. 



The sea-lion must have many natural enemies, or its numbers would increase 

 enormously and soon outnumber the fur seal. The young take to the water much 

 earlier than the fur seal pups, and, being awkward and less agile than the far seal, 

 probably fall victims in large numbers to sharks and killer \vha.\es {Orca f/Iadiator). 



Although considerable numbers of hair seals {Phoca vitxdura) are to be found 

 on the Kurils, the pursuit of this animal is never likely to be remunerative, for 

 their commercial value is very small. One hair seal will yield twice as much oil 

 as a sea-lion four or five times its size. They breed in June, and produce one at a 



